‘Bengalis Facing Oppression’: Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek To Give 2026 Roadmap At TMC Rally Tomorrow

Last Updated:July 20, 2025, 18:49 IST

Speaking to the media on Sunday evening, Mamata Banerjee said: “There is constant oppression of Bengalis for speaking their language. We will not tolerate this oppression."

TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee with national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. (PTI File)

The Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21, the last such rally before the 2026 West Bengal elections, will be crucial for many reasons. The message given by party supremo and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee are likely to set the tone for the party’s strategy.

Speaking to the media on Sunday evening, Banerjee said: “There is constant oppression of Bengalis for speaking their language. We will not tolerate this oppression."

“I thank all of you, including the administration and the media. Many of my colleagues have come here from distant places and are staying at the camp, I thank them for their dedication. More than a lakh people have already arrived. Due to the release of water and heavy rainfall, many areas are waterlogged. Yet, despite these challenges, people have come here to pay their respects to the martyrs," the TMC chief said.

“During the CPI(M) era, they didn’t allow people to vote. Buildings were locked to prevent voting. We launched a massive movement, and despite all their efforts, the CPI(M) couldn’t stop it. They opened fire and 13 people were killed and over 200 injured. Our demand was simple: no ID card, no vote. Now, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) doesn’t allow people to vote in double-engine states," she said.

Martyrs’ Day is TMC’s annual mega rally commemorating the 1993 incident when 13 workers were killed in police firing during Banerjee’s movement for EPIC cards. Since then, the TMC has observed this day to remember the martyrs, and Banerjee traditionally uses this platform to announce the party’s political agenda for the year.

Insiders say that this year, Banerjee is expected to outline the roadmap for the 2026 elections while addressing thousands of party workers from the stage.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned a gherao of the North Bengal Secretariat to protest against what it calls the “worsening law and order situation in the state". This is also the first time the court has imposed restrictions on the rally, following a petition citing potential traffic disruptions.

What will Mamata Banerjee speak on?

Bengali pride and alleged atrocities in BJP-ruled states: For the past month, the TMC has been aggressively raising the issue of ‘Bengali Asmita’ (Bengali pride). Banerjee has accused the BJP of being anti-Bengali, often citing incidents from Odisha. On July 16, she led a protest march, alleging that the central government had issued a secret notification to expel Bengali people from other states. She has vowed to challenge this notification in court. The TMC has also highlighted stories from Assam, where voters are allegedly being summoned for NRC verification and losing their citizenship rights. Insiders believe Banerjee will use the July 21 stage to direct her workers to launch a bigger movement, projecting the BJP as a party that does not respect Bengal’s culture and traditions. The message will be clear: people should not place their faith in the BJP in the upcoming elections. It is also expected that Banerjee will use this stage to directly respond to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks.

Special Intensive Revision (SIR): On the eve of the rally, the TMC released a video portraying the BJP as anti-Bengali and accused it of using the Election Commission for political gains. Banerjee has opposed the SIR process from the day it was announced, alleging that the BJP used similar tactics in Maharashtra and Delhi to include bogus voters from outside to manipulate election results. She is expected to reiterate this allegation, warning that the BJP is trying to replicate this strategy in Bihar and Bengal as well. Insiders believe Mamata will give a clarion call for a mass movement on this issue. While the BJP argues that revision is necessary because Banerjee has allegedly allowed Rohingya migrants into Bengal, changing the state’s demography, the CM maintains that this is merely a BJP tactic to misuse the Election Commission to win elections.

Guidelines to counter polarisation: The recent violence in Murshidabad and other incidents of communal tension have fuelled polarisation in the state. The BJP has alleged that Hindus are not safe under the TMC rule. Insiders believe Banerjee will use the stage to instruct party workers on how to counter this polarisation strategy and retaliate effectively.

Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam attack: Although the TMC has supported the central government’s decisions on dealing with Pakistan and even sent Abhishek as part of an international delegation, the party has raised several questions on the issue. Insiders believe Banerjee may attack the BJP government over intelligence failures related to recent incidents such as the Pahalgam attack.

Women’s issues, from RG Kar to Kasba rape allegations: Despite being a woman Chief Minister and despite schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar that have earned the party significant support among women voters, the TMC has faced embarrassment over incidents like the RG Kar case and the Kasba rape allegations. In Kasba, reports involving former leaders of the party’s student wing have tarnished the TMC’s image. Party leaders believe Banerjee will use the stage to give a strong message to the youth and may issue strict directions regarding party discipline.

Factionalism within TMC: Factional fights are common in the TMC, but insiders expect Banerjee to send a clear message that such infighting should not harm the party’s prospects, especially ahead of crucial elections.

Economic negligence by Centre vs Bengal’s development model: Banerjee is also expected to highlight how the central government has allegedly deprived Bengal of funds, yet the state has continued its development initiatives. With 15 years of anti-incumbency to counter, insiders say Banerjee will instruct workers to spread the message of Bengal’s development and also prepare them to fight fake news.

BJP’s counter-strategy

While the BJP has planned a North Bengal Secretariat gherao, its state president will be in Delhi to attend the Parliament session. The BJP has said on record that this will be Banerjee’s last Martyrs’ Day rally in power.

However, there is no doubt that all eyes will remain on Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee’s addresses from the July 21 stage.

News politics ‘Bengalis Facing Oppression’: Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek To Give 2026 Roadmap At TMC Rally Tomorrow