Abhishek sets 60,000 victory margin target for Mamata, warns cadres against complacency
Kolkata (PTI): The TMC on Sunday held an organisational meeting in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s home turf Bhabanipur, where party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee set an ambitious target of ensuring her victory by more than 60,000 votes in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections.
The meeting assumes significance as Bhabanipur, long regarded as Mamata Banerjee’s political backyard, is expected to witness a high-profile contest in the upcoming election with the BJP fielding Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari against her.
Addressing a closed-door workers’ conference at Ahindra Mancha in Chetla, along with Mamata Banerjee, her nephew Abhishek told booth-level leaders and party functionaries that Bhabanipur must emerge as the top-performing constituency in Kolkata, according to TMC sources.
“Bhabanipur must come first in Kolkata. Mamata Banerjee has to win by more than 60,000 votes,” he said, warning party cadres not to be complacent despite the constituency’s reputation as a TMC stronghold.
The meeting, attended by local councillors, booth workers and organisational leaders, was part of the party’s effort to strengthen its booth-level machinery in the constituency ahead of the assembly polls.
Among those present were state TMC president Subrata Bakshi, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, south Kolkata district president Debasish Kumar and councillors from the area.
Abhishek, considered number 2 in the TMC hierarchy, reminded party workers that Bhabanipur has 287 polling booths and asked them to improve on the party’s earlier performance.
“When Mamata Banerjee contested here earlier, we won in 231 booths. This time we must cross that figure and ensure victory in at least 232 booths,” he said.
Calling on booth presidents to function as “vigilant guardians” of their respective polling areas, the TMC MP said internal differences within local committees should not affect the organisational effort.
“You may like some people in your booth committees and dislike others. But remember that Mamata Banerjee herself is fighting here. That makes our responsibility much greater,” he said.
Mamata Banerjee, who also addressed the meeting, raised concerns over recent administrative changes during the poll process and accused the Centre of interfering in the state’s functioning.
“In the last three days, 50 officers have been removed. If anything happens, Narendra Modi and Vanish Kumar will have to take responsibility,” she told workers.
The TMC supremo also referred to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and said the party would extend legal assistance to voters who face problems.
“A supplementary list will be published tomorrow. If anyone’s name is deleted or they face difficulties, we will provide legal help,” she said.
According to party sources, the revision exercise has reportedly led to the deletion of around 47,000 names from the Bhabanipur electoral rolls, a development the TMC leadership is closely monitoring.
The constituency occupies a special place in Bengal politics. Mamata Banerjee had first represented Bhabanipur in the assembly before returning to the seat in 2011 through a bypoll after becoming chief minister.
In 2021, she again contested a by-election from Bhabanipur to retain the chief minister’s post after losing the high-stakes battle in Nandigram to Adhikari.
Though the seat has largely remained a TMC bastion, recent electoral trends have made the contest more closely watched. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, TMC candidate Mala Roy secured a lead of around 6,500 votes in the Bhabanipur segment, while the BJP gained ground in several municipal wards.
Against this backdrop, party leaders said Sunday’s meeting was aimed at ensuring there is “no room for complacency” in the constituency and that the organisational network remains fully mobilised for the upcoming electoral battle.
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TVK goes solo in Puducherry polls, names candidates for 30 seats
Puducherry (PTI): The TVK on Sunday announced its candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Puducherry.
The party said it will contest all the 30 constituencies on its own.
The list includes two women, who have been fielded from Mangalam and Kadirkamam in Puducherry region.
The party has named A K Sai J Saravanan Kumar as is its nominee in Thirubhuvanai reserved segment here.
Saravanan Kumar quit the BJP on Saturday following denial of ticket to him to seek reelection from Oussudu reserved segment.
Former AIADMK legislators K A U Asana and L Periyasamy are the TVK nominees to contest from Karaikal (South) and Nettapakkam (reserved) segments respectively.
Former president of the Puducherry unit of the BJP, V Saminathan has been fielded in Lawspet constituency.
Former Deputy Inspector General of Police of Puducherry V J Chandran and former Congress legislator N Dhanavelou are among the party nominees.
The party has also announced the names of its candidates for the remaining constituencies.
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