Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Aug 7, 2025, Kolkata : The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has launched a vigorous campaign to protect the Bengali identity, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leading the charge. In a highly charged rally held in Jhargram on Wednesday, Banerjee delivered a stark message about her political resolve, signaling that she would step down voluntarily only when she chooses to do so. Her remarks quickly sparked a response from the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Subhendu Adhikari, who challenged the Chief Minister’s statement with a declaration of his own political intent.
Banerjee’s comments in Jhargram, which were made at the conclusion of a march advocating for the protection of Bengali language and identity, included a clear assertion of her leadership. “I can be removed the day I think it’s necessary—not intentionally, but of my own accord,” Banerjee said. This prompted a pointed response from Adhikari, who, in a press statement, declared that Mamata Banerjee had already “lost” to him. He then added, “If I contest in Bhawanipur, I will defeat her. If the BJP fields me, she will lose again.” Adhikari went on to emphasize his resolve, saying it was his responsibility to ensure that the candidate opposing Mamata Banerjee would win. “He lost, he lost, he lost—I will play this in my ears for the rest of my life,” he said, clearly dismissing Banerjee’s political claims.
The conflict between the TMC and the BJP is increasingly shaped by the issue of Bengali identity. Banerjee, who has been vocal about the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states, continued to raise alarm over what she described as the marginalization of the Bengali community. In her speech, Banerjee sharply criticized the treatment of Bengali speakers across the country, particularly in states where the BJP holds power. She lamented, “Today, if you speak Bengali, you are being taken to jail and being called a Bangladeshi.” This accusation has become a central theme of her recent campaigns, particularly after the Language Movement march in Jhargram.
The Chief Minister urged the public to stand united in the face of such adversity, asking them to say “Jai Bangla” whenever confronted by such discrimination. Banerjee’s call to action resonated with many of the protesters who joined her in the rally, which was attended by prominent TMC leaders such as Firhad Hakim and Arup Biswas.
The political temperature in West Bengal is rising as the TMC steps up its offensive against what it views as an attempt to undermine the rights of Bengali speakers. Banerjee’s remarks, which are part of a broader campaign aimed at defending the linguistic and cultural identity of Bengalis, have set the stage for further confrontations with the BJP. With both political heavyweights jostling for influence in the state, the battle over Bengali identity is likely to dominate the political discourse in the coming weeks.
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