West Bengal's political landscape is heating up as the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) intensifies its preparations for the crucial 2026 Assembly elections while simultaneously challenging the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is strategically positioning itself to regain lost ground among key voter demographics.
TMC's Dual Strategy: Fighting SIR While Wooing Key Communities
The TMC has been walking a tightrope between controlling the narrative around the controversial SIR exercise and reaching out to communities potentially affected by the electoral roll revision. Party insiders reveal that the Matua community, primarily of Bangladeshi origin, has been identified as the most impacted group by the SIR process, especially in border districts.
A senior TMC leader disclosed that the party suffered significant losses among Matua and Adivasi voters during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, particularly affecting their performance in North Bengal, North 24 Parganas, Nadia and western regions. Although the party managed to recover somewhat in the 2021 Assembly elections, several seats in these areas remained out of their grasp.
Matua Community: The Electoral Prize
The Matua community represents a substantial voting bloc that could determine the outcome in numerous constituencies. TMC estimates place the Matua population at approximately 17% of West Bengal's total population, with significant influence in about 30 of the state's 292 Assembly seats. Interestingly, the community's own assessment suggests they constitute around 20% of the population and can sway results in 40-45 seats.
In a major outreach effort, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to address a rally in the Matua-dominated Bangaon subdivision on Tuesday, followed by a march to Thakurnagar, the community's headquarters located about 80 kilometers from Kolkata. Thakurnagar is home to the influential Thakur family, whose political preferences heavily influence community voting patterns.
Organizational Mobilization Against SIR
The TMC is pulling out all organizational stops to counter the SIR exercise. On Monday, party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee is set to virtually address over 10,000 party leaders and workers from across the state, aiming to mobilize cadre at the district level to play a more active role during the SIR process.
A senior party leader indicated that if necessary, both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee would personally visit districts to mobilize public opinion against the SIR, drawing parallels with the successful anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) movement where the Chief Minister garnered substantial support through similar grassroots mobilization.
The party's internal assessments emphasize the need for constant vigilance and consistent voter outreach. TMC workers have been instructed to ensure two critical outcomes: that no eligible voter is excluded from the SIR verification process, and that no genuine voter is removed from the rolls.
Political Confrontation Escalates
The TMC has maintained a hardline stance against the SIR since its announcement in late October. On November 4, when enumeration forms began distribution, the party organized a rally in Kolkata protesting the exercise. The party has consistently criticized the Election Commission and highlighted the issue of booth level officers (BLOs) deaths, which they attribute to increased workloads from the SIR.
The confrontation reached new heights on Thursday when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a strongly worded letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, urging immediate halt to the SIR exercise. In her letter, she warned that continuing on the current path would have irreversible consequences for the system, officials, and citizens.
Mamata specifically targeted West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer, alleging intimidation tactics against BLOs. She claimed that instead of providing support or extending timelines, the CEO's office was issuing unjustified show-cause notices and threatening disciplinary action against already stressed BLOs.
The political temperature rose further on Saturday when the Chief Minister flagged the case of a BLO from Nadia district who allegedly died by suicide. In a social media post, Mamata questioned how many more lives would be lost due to the SIR exercise, referencing the suicide note where the deceased BLO reportedly blamed the Election Commission. This incident followed another alleged BLO suicide reported from Jalpaiguri earlier in the week.
As the March-April 2026 Assembly elections approach, the TMC's strategy appears clear: challenge the SIR process while simultaneously consolidating support among crucial voting blocs that could determine the party's political future in West Bengal.
