Takeaways from Mamata message at TMC meet: ‘Khela Hobe’ to 215-seat goal to targeting BJP, EC

Onslaught on BJP, EC

In a bid to “discredit” the BJP’s victory in Maharashtra and Delhi, Mamata alleged manipulation of voter lists there. “They (BJP) manipulated the voters lists with the blessings of the Election Commission (EC). Parties (Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi) in Maharashtra could not catch this, parties (Aam Aadmi Party and Congress) in Delhi could not detect it. That is how they (BJP) won in Maharashtra and Delhi. But we could detect it,” she claimed.
“After Maharashtra and Delhi, now you (BJP) are targeting Bengal. We will give you a befitting reply. Once again ‘Khela Hobe’ (the game will be played). I ask workers to hit the ball harder this time,” she added.
Waving a list from the stage, the CM claimed it comprised fake voters. “I have examples here from all districts. The names of people from Haryana and Gujarat are here as Bengal voters with the same EPIC (Elector Photo Identity Card). Fake voters are put up online,” she alleged.

Mamata alleged the BJP was trying to “influence” the EC. “I had respect for the EC. But now it seems they are filled with BJP-minded people. The new Chief Election Commissioner (Gyanesh Kumar) used to be a Secretary in the Co-operation Department under the Union Home Minister,” she said, adding “Don’t forget we can also sit for dharna near the EC office in Delhi”.

She also hit out at the central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI, claiming that “As elections near, agencies will be hyperactive. They may file charge-sheets or arrest our party leaders.”

Targets for TMC rank and file

The fist task Mamata gave her party leaders and workers is to undertake a verification of the electoral rolls throughout the state. “Our first work is to conduct physical verification of the electoral rolls. Booth workers should start doing this immediately. District presidents should oversee the process and give feedback within seven days,” she said.
She also announced a high-level committee of the TMC MPs, MLAs and other leaders to monitor this entire exercise, which include Abhishek Banerjee, Subrata Bakshi, Firhad Hakim and Derek O’Brien, among others.

“Khela Hobe” and 215 seats

Echoing the pitch made by Abhishek Banerjee, her nephew and the TMC national general secretary, Mamata set the goal for her party of winning at least 215 seats out of 294 in the 2026 polls. The party had bagged 214 seats in the 2021 polls.

“I agree with Abhishek (Banerjee). We should get at least one more seat than what we got in 2021. We should ensure 215 seats and try for more. We should ensure that the candidates of BJP, CPI(M) and Congress lose or forfeit their deposits in the elections,” she said.

She asked the TMC leaders and workers to go house to house to connect with the people. “Ensure our organisation remains strong at the grassroots level. Keep a watch in your neighbourhood and ensure outsiders do not cause communal disturbance,” she said.

Flaying Bengal Cong

In her speech, Mamata claimed that a Congress section “scuttled” the TMC’s prospects of winning the 2001 polls. “We would have come to power in 2001. People of Bengal were ready to oust CPI(M) from power. We had a seat adjustment with Congress then. However, some Congress leaders betrayed us leading to our loss,” she alleged.

Now, the TMC is not only ruling Bengal but has also altogether 42 MPs in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, she noted.

Party discipline

In a bid to tackle factionalism and infighting within the TMC, Mamata made it clear that the party is “supreme” and not any leader. “I keep a watch on social media. Some leaders are saying and writing that they follow some particular leader and not the party. I tell you clearly that the party symbol is supreme. You all have won on the basis of party symbol, be is in panchayat elections or Assembly,” she said.

“I will promote those leaders and workers who are doing good work. I will have no mercy on those who are indulging in just lip service and not doing any work,” she warned.

U-turn on I-PAC

Mamata asked her party leaders to “cooperate” with the political consultancy firm I-PAC, which has been working for the TMC. This came a few months after she had asked them not to give much importance to the I-PAC.

However, she told them Thursday, “This is not PK’s (Prashant Kishore) I-PAC. They are working somewhere else. He (Kishore) has set up a political party too. This is a new team. Stop criticising them. This is because we have to work together. You will have to understand this.”

On Indian deportees

Mamata castigated the BJP-led Centre over the manner in which many illegal Indian migrants in the United States were deported. “It is unfortunate to see people of our country being put in chains and driven out of countries. This is happening while they (BJP dispensation) are only doing meetings. Why is the Indian government not sending aircraft (to the US)? Why is the Indian government not saying let us bring back our countrymen with dignity. They should be brought back with dignity and given jobs here if needed. When medical students from Ukraine returned, we in Bengal made arrangements for them to study here.” she said.