Trinamool Congress leadership unveils a 10-point action plan blending Mamata’s mass appeal with Abhishek’s organisational drive.
The West Bengal Assembly election is expected in April–May 2026, following Bihar’s polls later this year. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, the party’s General Secretary, have been meeting frequently to finalise the Trinamool Congress’s election blueprint.
While there is speculation about differences between the two leaders, sources stress their ideology and political goals remain aligned, with generational differences only influencing their style of functioning.
10 Key Points of the Trinamool’s 2026 Election Strategy
1. Mamata as the Campaign Face
- Mamata Banerjee will dominate 90% of campaign visuals.
- Abhishek will have 10% presence in campaign materials.
- Strategy mirrors BJP’s use of PM Narendra Modi as the primary face.
2. Abhishek’s Role in Parliament
- Appointed as Trinamool’s Parliamentary Party Leader in the Lok Sabha.
- Focus on countering anti-Bengal narratives nationally.
- Strengthening ties with leaders like Tejashwi Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav through INDIA alliance meetings.
3. Parallel Presence in Bengal and Delhi
- Abhishek to remain active in state pre-election programmes.
- Conducting virtual meetings with district leaders.
- Driving voter card campaigns and district-level assessments.
4. Candidate Selection and Surveys
- Abhishek to oversee MLA nominations with district presidents.
- Working with organisational head Partik Jain and independent surveys for data-driven decisions.
5. Balancing Old and New Guards
- Mamata maintaining ties with veteran leaders while supporting new entrants.
- Efforts to end factionalism in districts before polls.
6. Governance and Welfare Focus
- Boosting schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar.
- Continued public outreach through Paray Samadhan and regular administrative reviews.
7. Media and Messaging Strategy
- National media handled by Derek O’Brien; state media by Kunal Ghosh.
- Aggressive social media campaigns with reels, videos, and focused coverage of Mamata’s rallies.
8. Expanding Speaker Line-Up
- Additional campaigners: Bratya Basu, Shashi Panja, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Jayprakash Majumder.
- Multiple leaders to counter BJP’s star campaigners.
9. Bengali Identity Politics
- Countering BJP’s religious slogans with Bengali cultural pride.
- Inclusion of non-Bengali leaders like Kirti Azad to ensure unity and avoid alienating Hindus or Hindi speakers.
10. Continuous Monitoring of BJP Campaigns
- Real-time tracking of BJP and its IT cell activities.
- Quick counter-narratives to prevent misinformation from spreading.
With Mamata Banerjee’s mass appeal and Abhishek Banerjee’s organisational leadership, the Trinamool Congress is preparing for a highly coordinated, data-driven, and culturally resonant campaign for the 2026 Bengal Assembly polls. The strategy blends populist governance, grassroots outreach, and identity politics to counter the BJP’s advances while safeguarding the party’s voter base.
