In a fiery address at a public rally in Birbhum, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee set an ambitious target for the party in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections while launching a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI).
"Un-Map BJP from Bengal": A Call for Electoral Dominance
Speaking on Tuesday, January 7, 2026, at Rampurhat in Birbhum district as part of his 'Abar Jitbe Bangla' campaign tour, Abhishek Banerjee urged the people of the state to decisively reject the BJP. He called upon voters to "un-map the BJP from Bengal" and ensure a resounding victory for the TMC in 250 of the state's 294 assembly seats.
He framed the upcoming election as a direct response to perceived insults from the BJP-led central government. Banerjee accused the BJP and the Election Commission of forming a "nexus" aimed at disenfranchising voters in West Bengal through the Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR) exercise.
"The BJP government at the Centre has been repeatedly resorting to deliberate acts of insulting the people of Bengal and has now formed a nexus with the Election Commission to target the state in the name of conducting the SIR exercise," Banerjee alleged.
SIR Notices to Icons and an Attack on a Hawker
To substantiate his claim of overreach, Banerjee cited examples of prominent Bengalis who have received SIR hearing notices. He mentioned that Nobel laureate Professor Amartya Sen, actor Dev, and World Cup-winning cricketer Mohammed Shami were among those served notices.
He also referenced a recent incident in Kolkata to underscore his point about the BJP imposing its will. Banerjee spoke about the assault on a hawker selling chicken patties near the Brigade Parade Grounds on December 7, 2025, following a mass recital of Bhagavad Gita verses.
"Delhi leaders of BJP are deciding who will eat egg curry, who will eat fish curry… If they can launch an attack on a poor hawker and on your food choices by winning only 70 seats in the state, imagine what they can do if they come to power," he warned the crowd. He presented the TMC's target of 250 seats as a necessary bulwark against such interference.
Birbhum's Political Landscape and Lakshmir Bhandar Defence
Focusing on the local context, Banerjee emphasized the importance of winning all 11 assembly seats in Birbhum district. He stated that the fitting reply to the "insult" was to secure every seat. In the 2021 polls, the TMC had won 10 of these seats, with only the Dubrajpur constituency going to the BJP.
The TMC leader also launched a scathing criticism of BJP leader Kalipada Soren for his controversial remarks on the state government's flagship Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which provides financial assistance to women. Banerjee claimed Soren suggested that women beneficiaries should be "locked in their houses."
"On one hand, Didi (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) is giving Lakshmir Bhandar, and on the other hand, BJP leaders want to stop the scheme... Till the time, Didi is here, no BJP leader can even point a finger at you," he asserted, positioning the TCM as the sole protector of women's welfare.
Chopper Hurdle and a Last-Minute Arrangement
The rally itself was preceded by an unexpected logistical challenge for Abhishek Banerjee. The TMC MP revealed that he faced difficulties in reaching the venue on time after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) allegedly denied permission for his helicopter to fly.
Undeterred, Banerjee said he arranged an alternative at short notice. He flew to Birbhum in a chopper belonging to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Apologizing for his delayed arrival, Banerjee framed the incident as political obstruction.
"My chopper was not given clearance (by the DGCA). BJP thinks these tricks will stop me, but I am ten times more stubborn than the BJP," he declared. He drew a parallel to an incident two months prior where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's scheduled helicopter travel was disrupted, forcing her to travel by road and delaying a rally by two hours.
The Birbhum rally sets a combative tone for the TMC's campaign, framing the election as a battle for Bengal's identity and autonomy against a hostile central power, with Abhishek Banerjee squarely leading the charge.
