The political atmosphere in West Bengal has reached a fever pitch following the announcement of the 2026 Assembly elections. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while releasing the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) manifesto today at Kalighat, launched a scathing attack on the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI). She alleged that the state is currently under an “undeclared President’s Rule,” with the ECI acting as a tool for the BJP to destabilize the state administration.

A major highlight of her address was the fear regarding citizenship. Mamata accused the BJP-led central government of plotting to snatch the citizenship of Bengalis through the implementation of NRC and the delimitation process. “The BJP is jealous of Bengal’s progress. Since they cannot win through democratic means, they are now targeting the identity of our people,” she asserted, promising that the TMC would protect every citizen’s rights.

Banerjee also raised the issue of statehood, alleging that the BJP is conspiring to carve out a new administrative unit by separating North Bengal and merging it with parts of Bihar. She termed this as a direct threat to the geographical integrity of West Bengal. Framing the 2026 polls as a battle for “Bengal’s existence,” she urged voters to stand against what she calls the “autocratic interference” of the Centre. Her fiery rhetoric has set the stage for a high-intensity electoral showdown centered on regional identity and constitutional rights.