On Monday, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) initiated a fresh campaign, ‘Banglar Gorbo Mamata’ (Bengal’s Pride Mamata), geared towards preparing the party for upcoming civic and Assembly elections in April this year and 2022, challenging opposition parties, including the BJP. Over the course of the 75-day campaign, approximately 75,000 TMC workers will engage with 2.5 crore people statewide, concluding on May 10. The campaign launch took place at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurating the event alongside party MLAs and workers.
Banerjee emphasized the program’s objective to enhance the party’s communication and interaction with people at all levels. She encouraged leaders and workers to actively participate in the campaign, intending to project her as the sole leader capable of driving development, fostering state growth, and preserving communal harmony. The campaign aims to position her as the “chief architect” dedicated to restoring Bengali culture, dignity, and pride.
A senior TMC leader clarified that although the campaign coincides with the civic polls in April, its primary focus is on the Assembly elections next year. The upcoming elections for 107 municipalities and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) are being referred to as “mini assembly elections.”
Designed by poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s I-PAC group, the three-phase ‘Banglar Gorbo Mamata’ campaign targets outreach to all sections of society, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, youth, women, and senior citizens. The first phase involves interactions with the media and recognizing the contributions of disillusioned workers. The second phase includes engagement with Dalits and Tribals, while the final phase reaches out to youths, women, and other sections. Meetings and rallies will be organized during the 75-day period to reinforce the message that “Mamata Banerjee is the only alternative in this state.”
Taking a dig at the opposition, Banerjee alleged a tacit understanding between the CPI(M), Congress, and the BJP during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, ensuring the BJP’s victory by splitting anti-BJP votes. Responding to Amit Shah’s recent statement about targeting 200 seats in Bengal, Banerjee criticized the selective targeting of Trinamool Congress seats and not those of CPI(M) and Congress. The TMC’s new campaign aims
