Mamata Banerjee Launches 'Protest' Offensive Against BJP In Kolkata Ahead of Panchayat Elections

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, will begin a two-day dharna in Kolkata today in a bid to boost Trinamool Congress' offensive against BJP ahead of the upcoming state panchayat elections.

Banerjee is expected to focus on criticizing the BJP-led centre for allegedly withholding state funds during the protest.

Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool General Secretary and the Chief Minister's nephew, will speak at a Shahid Minar ground rally protesting the centre's policies and its "stepmotherly" treatment of Bengal.

Trinamool suffered a defeat from Congress in the Sagardighi bypoll, leading to their efforts to excel in the upcoming panchayat polls.

The party has taken corrective measures such as Banerjee's acquisition of the minority affairs portfolio from Ghulam Rabbani to enhance their performance in the rural areas. These actions have been taken keeping in mind the panchayat polls, according to sources within the party.

Banerjee has also laid the groundwork for Trinamool's strategy in the 2024 general election, by announcing that the party will contest the Lok Sabha polls on its own. Further, she is looking into possible alliances with other regional parties, excluding Congress, in the lead up to the polls.

Banerjee's remark about Rahul Gandhi being Modi's "biggest TRP" led to a barb exchange between the Congress and TMC. The Congress accused Trinamool of making a deal with BJP in retaliation.

Nevertheless, Mamata Banerjee has supported the Congress regarding the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as an MP after a Gujarat court's conviction in a defamation case.

Meanwhile, both the BJP and Congress have announced their plans to stage protests in the city. BJP leaders are scheduled to hold a daylong sit-in at Shyambazar area where they aim to highlight the corruption allegations against the ruling Trinamool party.

The Congress is also organizing a protest march from their state party headquarters to Park Circus in opposition to the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha.