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Elections may not have been declared in West Bengal yet but the political temperature in the state has already soared. The streets are witnessing poll frenzy with rallies, counter-rallies, and a flurry of complaints to the Election Commission. The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive has effectively turned into a semi-final before the big Bengal battle. The SIR exercise has electrified the state’s political scene. On one hand, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee took to the streets of Kolkata on Tuesday to display their strength. On the other hand, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari held a rally in Panihati—the same area where the TMC claims the first death linked to the SIR drive occurred. It’s a familiar sight during elections—both ruling and opposition parties making regular visits to the Election Commission with their grievances. As the SIR begins, both the TMC and the BJP are doing exactly that. The TMC alleges that voter names have been deleted even before the SIR process began, while the BJP accuses the TMC of intimidating Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and manipulating the process. It is now evident that the SIR will emerge as one of the most contentious issues in Bengal politics this season. Both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee have made it clear that they intend to take this battle beyond Bengal to Delhi. Leading a massive rally in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the BJP and the Election Commission, declaring: “Our war will be fought both on the streets and in court. They are deceiving people in the name of CAA camps. If they try to remove you, I will stand by you.” Abhishek Banerjee, addressing the crowd, said, “The 2026 fight is not just about making Mamata Banerjee chief minister again. This fight is to make the BJP zero in Bengal.” From November 10, Abhishek Banerjee is expected to begin district visits, while Mamata Banerjee will also travel across the state. Meanwhile, the BJP has intensified its counter-campaign. Suvendu Adhikari, Sukanta Majumdar, and Samik Bhattacharya are holding rallies across Bengal in support of the SIR, arguing that it is the only way to weed out infiltrators. At a rally on Tuesday, Adhikari said, “Those who are protesting today are infiltrators and supporters of infiltrators. The time has come. They must all go back.” Actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty has also joined the campaign, saying, “If you don’t want Bengal to turn into Bangladesh, this is the time for change.” The BJP has opened several CAA assistance camps to reassure Matua Hindu refugees from Bangladesh that they will not be deported. The TMC, however, has countered this narrative, taking Matuas along in their rallies and warning that those visiting CAA camps risk being sent to detention camps. Even before the official election notification, Bengal has already plunged into a heated political battle—one that’s setting the stage for a fierce contest in 2026.
