In the 2024 elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had fielded former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan from the seat, who was leading by a margin of 85,328 votes as of 6.30 pm, officials said.

Adhir blamed the BJP’s “polarisation” for his defeat. “I congratulate the TMC candidate for his victory. I have accepted my defeat. The BJP indulged in polarisation in Baharampur which led to our defeat,” Adhir said while talking to reporters on Tuesday. Pathan said his first priority after being sworn in as an MP would be to set up a cricket academy in Baharampur.

Meanwhile, Isha Khan Choudhury emerged as the Congress party’s sole flag bearer in West Bengal to the lower house of Parliament. Khan Chowdhury, as reported by multiple TV channels, won the Malda Dakshin seat by a margin of more than 1.15 lakh votes over his nearest rival, BJP’s Sreeupa Mitra Chaudhury, aka Nirbhaya Didi. TMC candidate Shahnawaz Ali Raihan finished the contest as a distant third.

Speaking to mediapersons in Kolkata, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: “I have texted Rahul (congratulating him). Maybe they were busy. I always said they (Congress) will not win more than two (seats in Bengal). What happened we all saw,” she said.

— With PTI Inputs

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