The victory of BJP candidate Kalita Majhi has drawn as much attention as the defeat of Mamata Banerjee. A domestic worker who earned between Rs 2,500 and Rs 4,000 a month, Majhi pulled off a stunning upset by defeating the TMC to win the Ausgram Assembly seat -- one of the most talked-about results of the 2026 elections.
Majhi contested from the Ausgram constituency in East Burdwan district. She worked in multiple households as a domestic help, while her husband, Subrata Majhi, is a water pipeline mechanic. The couple has a son who studies in Class 8.
In a significant turnaround, Majhi defeated TMC candidate Shyama Prasanna Lohar by 12,535 votes. The Ausgram seat is reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Notably, she had contested the same seat in 2021 but lost to TMC’s Abhedananda Thander by around 11,000 votes. This time, she reversed her fortunes with a decisive win.
Her rise has also been acknowledged at the national level. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier praised her, saying she represents dignity and service, and stands as an inspiring example in public life.
The first BJP government in West Bengal will form the government on May 9 (Saturday), coinciding with Rabindranath Tagore's birthday.
The Bharatiya Janata Party swept aside the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), bringing an end to Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year tenure in power. The victory marks the BJP’s first time forming a government in the state, long considered one of the Opposition’s strongest bastions in eastern India.
Reacting to the win, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the result as “historic,” saying it signals the beginning of a new phase for Bengal. Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, he said the mandate reflects people’s desire for change and a future free from fear.
