West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Announces Border District Protest Rallies
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is set to intensify her protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls with a series of rallies across Bengal's border districts. According to TMC sources, the Chief Minister will address anti-SIR gatherings in Malda and Murshidabad districts during the first week of December.
The political mobilization comes as the ruling party seeks to counter what it describes as "panic" surrounding the SIR exercise and energize its grassroots organization ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Detailed Rally Schedule and Locations
Mamata Banerjee's protest tour will commence on December 3 in Malda district, where she will address an anti-SIR rally in Gajol. The following day, on December 4, the Chief Minister will travel to Murshidabad district to participate in another protest rally in Berhampore.
Party sources indicate that both Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, plan to hold rallies in all Bengal districts along the India-Bangladesh border. However, whether Abhishek will participate in the December 4 Berhampore rally remains undecided.
The decision to expand the protest movement follows what party insiders describe as the "success" of Mamata's November 25 rally in the Matua-dominated Bangaon area of North 24 Parganas. Since 2019, the TMC has struggled electorally in the Bangaon region, but the party now expects improved performance in the 2026 polls due to voter concerns about the SIR process.
Political Strategy Behind the Protest Movement
At the Bangaon rally, Mamata Banerjee delivered a strong message to voters, urging them not to fear the SIR exercise. "Don't panic at all. We won't let you leave. No one can force you to leave when the Trinamool Congress is with you," she assured the gathering.
The Chief Minister also launched a sharp criticism against both the Election Commission and the BJP, alleging that "the BJP is cheating people and trying to implement the CAA through the back door of SIR." She accused the opposition party of playing the "religion card" and questioned why the election authorities had remained inactive for so many years before initiating the SIR process.
A senior TMC leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the Bangaon rally effectively kick-started campaigning for the 2026 Assembly elections, scheduled for April-May. The leader noted that despite addressing the Matua community in North 24 Parganas, Mamata deliberately avoided visiting Thakurbari in Thakurnagar, the spiritual center of the Matuas that influences electoral outcomes in over 30 Assembly constituencies across North 24 Parganas, Nadia, and Jalpaiguri districts.
Targeting Key Demographic Groups
The choice of Malda and Murshidabad for the upcoming rallies reflects a strategic shift in the TMC's approach. Both districts have significant Muslim voter populations, and the party aims to consolidate support among these communities ahead of the crucial state elections.
Party insiders suggest that Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee have recognized growing complacency within the TMC's grassroots organization following repeated electoral victories against the BJP. They believe this could potentially damage the party's organizational strength if left unaddressed.
Consequently, the leadership has decided to embark on an extensive tour of border districts to re-energize party workers and supporters approximately six months before the state polls. The anti-SIR agitation provides a platform to reconnect with the party base and address voter concerns about the electoral revision process.
The TMC has raised serious objections to the timing and implementation of the SIR, with Mamata Banerjee claiming that completing the process within three months is impossible and would require at least three years for proper execution. The party's aggressive stance against the SIR exercise represents a significant political gambit as West Bengal prepares for another intense electoral battle in 2026.
