With the West Bengal Assembly elections just three months away, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has unleashed its key electoral weapon. The party's national general secretary and de facto number two, Abhishek Banerjee, embarked on a crucial statewide tour on Friday, January 2, 2026. Dubbed the "Abar Jitbe Bangla" (Bengal Will Win Again) yatra, this month-long campaign is seen by party insiders as a potential game-changer for the upcoming polls.
The Strategy Behind the Journey
The yatra is designed as a multi-pronged offensive. Over the next month, Abhishek Banerjee will criss-cross the state, holding roadshows, public meetings, and community interactions. The core agenda is twofold: to showcase the Mamata Banerjee government's "accomplishments" over three terms, particularly its welfare schemes, and to position the TMC as the sole defender of Bengal's culture, language, and identity against the BJP.
The campaign revolves around the slogan, "Jotoi koro hamla, Abar jitbe Bangla" (No matter how much you attack, Bengal will win again). Party sources indicate that Abhishek will aggressively frame the narrative around alleged central neglect, highlighting the Rs 1.96 lakh crore in dues pending with the Centre and accusing the BJP of weaponising institutions like the Election Commission and the Enforcement Directorate.
Beyond public outreach, the yatra has a critical internal function. Abhishek will use the tour to gather grassroots feedback on sitting MLAs and local leaders, which will directly influence the party's candidate selection for the March-April elections. This move consolidates his role as a central figure in both strategy and ticket distribution.
Echoes of a Winning Formula
The TMC's high expectations for this yatra are rooted in recent history. Party leaders have drawn a direct parallel to Abhishek's "Nabo Joar Yatra" (New Wave Yatra) undertaken in February-March 2023. That tour preceded the September 2023 panchayat elections, where the TMC secured a sweeping victory, and is credited with laying the groundwork for the party's landslide win in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Bengal.
Abhishek's influence in candidate selection was evident in those national elections. He handpicked several winning candidates, often making unconventional choices. These included fielding former cricketer Yusuf Pathan against Congress's Adhir Chowdhury, selecting Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia to defeat former Union minister Nisith Pramanik in Cooch Behar, and backing relative unknowns like Kalipada Soren and Bapi Halder, who won in Jhargram and Mathurapur, respectively. His pick, Mitali Bagh, also scored an unexpected victory in Arambagh.
The Rise of Abhishek Banerjee
Abhishek's journey to becoming the TMC's second-in-command accelerated during the 2021 Assembly campaign. His formal elevation to national general secretary came after the party's hattrick victory. Despite initial hiccups in other state elections and internal tussles, the Diamond Harbour MP cemented his authority through the 2023 yatra.
His role expanded significantly as he represented the TMC in the INDIA bloc coordination committee and led the party's "Delhi Chalo" protest in October 2023 when Mamata Banerjee was indisposed. In August 2025, he was appointed the TMC's leader in the Lok Sabha, replacing the ailing Sudip Banerjee, further solidifying his position as the party's key national face alongside Mamata.
The yatra follows his direct confrontation with the Election Commission. On Wednesday, January 1, 2026, he led a TMC delegation to protest the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the party calls "an exercise to disenfranchise Bengalis." He later targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging a mission to "destroy" the institution.
Opposition Dismisses the Campaign
The BJP and the Left have dismissed the yatra's significance. Former state BJP chief Rahul Sinha claimed people have moved away from the TMC due to "arrogance" and that the party's attacks on the SIR expose its attempts to manipulate voter lists. CPI(M) leader Samik Lahiri derided it as a "five-star yatra" with no connection to common people.
Nevertheless, as Mamata Banerjee remains the party's undisputed mascot, Abhishek's "Abar Jitbe Bangla" yatra is set to be the TMC's primary campaign engine. It aims to galvanise the party cadre, set the electoral narrative, and replicate the success of 2023, making it a central pillar of the TMC's strategy to secure a fourth consecutive term in West Bengal.
