Kolkata burst on Tuesday as Mamata Banerjee unleashed the full Trinamool Congress list of 2026 West Bengal contestants: 291 all set to fight with a monster 226-seat target. With nephew Abhishek and party warhorse Subrata Bakshi beside her at home at Kali Ghat, Didi was not holding back, she burnt BJP flexing women power and fresh blood.
It was noon and crowds were thronging 30B Harish Chatterjee Road. Media vans snarled lanes 2 PM sharp: Mamata goes to the mic, mic in hand. “BJP, why so scared? Fight fair–no agencies, no games about gas crisis! she fires first shot. Asks Election Commission to criticize the abrupt change of officers after model code. Chun-chun ke liya gonecha -picked from BJP offices! Crowd roars.
Mega surprise: TMC is challenging 291 out of 294 seats. Three spots in Darjeeling hill to the ally of Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha of Anit Thapa. Abhishek splits numbers; 52 women (18% list) 95 SC/ST, 47 minorities. Balance of new and old, says he smiling. No glitter of Tollywood–performance regulations. Such vets as Madan Mitra retain Kamarhati; Jyotipriya Mallick retains Habra amid ED heat.
Shocker: Didi re-enters Bhabanipur, again vs. turncoat Suvendu Adhikari. 2021 Nandigram scar? Instead, she leaves it and puts Pabitra Kar there. revenging that loss, mumbling, insiders. Shashi Panja makes a hold on Shyampukur; Firhad Hakim on Kolkata Port. Soham Chakraborty raids Karimpur; the son of Kalyan Banerjee Prabhat hits Uttarpara. Former journalist Devadeep Purohit in Khardah.
Mamata entwines the fever: “We will break 215 of the last–226 without any trouble! Targets PM: “Attack Bengal? We’ll hit back. Boycott BJP!” Comforce snobbed loyalists: No ticket? Big roles in party.” Critiques the loss by BJP of the initial 144 list, Suvendu reversed. Two places to fight, scared cats? Laughter ripples.
Crowd yells; Jago Bengal, Jago! as scrolls list on scrolls huge screens. Youth wing outbursts in regard to newcomer picks- overnight switchers to BJP (CPI(M) are welcomed. Old guard falls off-mic, yet Didi hangs with iron grip. Abhishek: “No stars, first, winnability. Youthquake Signals youth surge after 2021.
BJP hits back fast. Suvendu X-blasts: Bhabanipur duel of dynasties? Bring it!” Chief of the state Sukanta Majumdar: “Same old bad faces- Lalu-Mamata model. Congress wounds seat changings; Left gambles at fringes. EC silent on Mamata’s barbs. Polls: Two phases, April 23-29. TMC looks at landslide; BJP dreams 2021 redux.
Street buzz electric. Jingles rattle out of auto-rickshaws. Tea-stalls discuss: Can Didi bury Nandigaram ghost? Her line about BJP sabotage is fuelled by gas crisis (Iran war pinch) there are no enough cylinders and voters are crazy. Women push nods the MeToo wave; SC/ST weight locks rural banks.
Fallout? TMC machine turns on, booths occupied, money flows. Diamond merchant tag of Abhishek escapes fire; emphasize on guarantees of Didi. BJP responds with CAA-NRC fear in Muslim areas. The temperature is increasing with each passing day when nomination is close.
Vote Trinamool, save Bengal! Mamata wraps. Fireworks light sky. Party cadres are crawling along the streets, posters are pasted on walls overnight. Bengal poll fever boils-Didi list outfits grudge matches, new bets, power plays.
