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CM Mamata Banerjee is positioning herself as the defender of Bengali culture and language, accusing the BJP of nurturing an “anti-Bengali” sentiment in states under its control.
BJP is preparing for an aggressive counter to Mamata Banerjee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a rally in Asansol on July 18. (Image: PTI)
With the West Bengal Assembly elections looming in 2026, the political battleground is expected to be shaped by a fierce contest over Bengali identity and pride — or asmita. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is positioning herself as the defender of Bengali culture and language, accusing the BJP of nurturing an “anti-Bengali” sentiment in states under its control. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is expected to drive this narrative hard in the months ahead, with Mamata herself leading from the front.
On July 16, Mamata will take to the streets in Kolkata to protest what she calls the “anti-Bengali stance” of BJP-ruled states. Party leaders say this rally will serve as the formal launch of her election campaign, setting the tone for the 2026 polls. TMC’s campaign will culminate in a major political show of strength on July 21 — the party’s annual Martyrs’ Day rally — where Mamata is expected to outline her broader vision for the state and escalate her attack on the BJP.
Bengali pride is expected to be a key campaign plank. TMC leaders, including state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, have alleged that Bengalis face discrimination in BJP-ruled states. “Bengalis have written the National Anthem and National Song, yet if you speak Bengali in BJP states, they treat you as a Bangladeshi. They mark you and threaten to push you to Bangladesh,” Bhattacharya said, underscoring the emotional weight the party plans to wield in its appeal to voters.
On the other side, the BJP is preparing for an aggressive counter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a rally in Asansol on July 18. BJP insiders say Modi will project the success of “double-engine governments” — where both state and Centre are ruled by the BJP — in delivering development and welfare. He is expected to contrast this with Bengal, which he claims has been held back by Mamata’s confrontational politics.
BJP is also likely to focus on alleged demographic shifts and law and order issues in the state. Newly appointed state party president Samik Bhattacharya has slammed the TMC government over corruption, education lapses, and women’s safety. He claimed that while the rest of the country moves forward under Modi’s leadership, Bengal remains “trapped in misrule.” “Bengal witnessed the Bengal Renaissance, but look at today’s Bengal – teachers are sitting on roads, students are raped inside campuses. Narendra Modi has built a New Bharat, and Bengal cannot be kept away from these benefits,” Bhattacharya said.
With Mamata’s district tours expected after July 21 and Modi and Amit Shah expected to increase their visits to Bengal in the months ahead, the battle for Bengal is set to intensify — with Bengali asmita taking centre stage.
Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar…Read More
Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar… Read More
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