Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to hold anti-SIR rallies in Malda, Murshidabad next week: TMC sources
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, her nephew Abhishek Banerjee to hold rallies in all Bengal districts along the India-Bangladesh border to protest against the ongoing SIR exercise in the state.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee will hold rallies in all Bengal districts along the India-Bangladesh border to protest against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
TMC sources said Mamata Banerjee will go to Malda on December 3. She will address an anti-SIR rally in Gajol on that day. The next day, she will participate in another anti-SIR rally in Berhampore under Murshidabad district. Whether Abhishek Banerjee will participate in that rally or not has not been decided yet.
Party sources said Mamata Banerjee has got enthused after the ‘success’ of her anti-SIR rally in Matua-dominated Bangaon on November 25. Since 2019, the TMC has not had much success in elections in the Bangaon area. But the party, sources said, is expecting to do well in the 2026 Assembly polls owing to the ‘panic’ surrounding SIR.
At the Bangaon rally, Mamata Banerjee had asked voters not to be afraid of 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 said.
She also criticised the Election Commission (EC) and claimed: “The BJP is cheating people and trying to implement the CAA through the back door of SIR. It’s playing the religion card. Why were you sitting idle for so many years? It’s not possible to complete the SIR process within three months. It requires three years.”
When contacted, a senior TMC leader said, “The CM was addressing a TMC rally at Bongaon in North 24 Parganas, one of the strong citadels of the Matua community in the state. However, due to infighting within the All India Matua Mahasangha, Mamata did not visit Thakurbari in Thakurnagar, the spiritual centre of the Matuas that decides the electoral fate of political parties in more than 30 Assembly constituencies in North 24 Parganas, Nadia and Jalpaiguri districts. The rally virtually kick-started campaigning for the Assembly elections slated for April-May 2026 and intensified the anti-SIR agitations.”
He further said, “After addressing Matua-dominated areas, Mamata Banerjee has planned to enter Muslim-dominated Malda and Murshidabad in the first week of December. In these two districts, the number of Muslim voters is also high. Mamata Banerjee is trying to woo these sections of the population as well.
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“Both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee are realising that the grassroots level of the TMC has become complacent after repeatedly winning against the BJP. They think this can damage the party organisation. So, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee will be touring bordering districts to energise the party rank and file just six months ahead of the state polls.”
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
