Mamata Banerjee Launches Election Campaign, Challenges BJP on Bengali Identity

With the West Bengal Assembly elections approaching in 2026, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is positioning herself as a staunch advocate for Bengali culture and language. Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of fostering an “anti-Bengali” sentiment in states under its governance, Banerjee is set to take a prominent stance in the political arena.

On July 16, Banerjee plans to lead a rally in Kolkata, which party officials have indicated will mark the official launch of her election campaign. This event aims to highlight the perceived threats to Bengali identity and pride, referred to as asmita. The political landscape in West Bengal is expected to be dominated by discussions surrounding Bengali pride, with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) intensifying its narrative in the months leading up to the elections.

The TMC’s campaign will reach a critical moment on July 21 during the party’s annual Martyrs’ Day rally. Banerjee is anticipated to outline her vision for the state while ramping up her criticisms of the BJP. Party leaders, including state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, have argued that Bengalis face discrimination in BJP-ruled states. Bhattacharya emphasized the emotional weight of their message, stating, “Bengalis have written the National Anthem and National Song, yet if you speak Bengali in BJP states, they treat you as a Bangladeshi.”

In response, the BJP is gearing up for a robust counter-campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address supporters in Asansol on July 18. Sources within the BJP indicate that Modi will focus on the achievements of “double-engine governments,” where both state and central governance are under BJP control. He is expected to contrast this with what he describes as stagnation in West Bengal, attributing the situation to Banerjee’s confrontational political style.

The BJP is also likely to address issues of law and order and alleged demographic changes within the state. Newly appointed state party president Samik Bhattacharya has criticized the TMC government for corruption, educational shortcomings, and concerns regarding women’s safety. He remarked, “Bengal witnessed the Bengal Renaissance, but look at today’s Bengal – teachers are sitting on roads, students are raped inside campuses.”

As the political battle intensifies, Banerjee’s district tours following the July 21 rally are expected to further galvanize her support. Meanwhile, Modi and senior party leader Amit Shah are likely to increase their visits to West Bengal in the lead-up to the elections. The contest for Bengal is poised to become a focal point of political discourse, with Bengali asmita taking center stage in the narrative.