Identity Politics: Mamata’s Battle for Bengal

With less than a year to go for the West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sharpened her rhetoric, shifting from “Bengal under threat” to “Bengalis under threat.” Her recent stance ahead of the Martyrs’ Day Rally of Monday made it clear that identity politics will be her central plank in 2026. By framing the contest as a battle for Bengali culture, language, and cuisine, she aims to consolidate her core vote bank while countering the BJP’s aggressive push into the state.

Mamata Banerjee is no stranger to political theatrics, and her ability to reinvent narratives is unmatched. Her earlier campaigns painted the BJP as an outsider force threatening Bengal’s secular fabric. Now, she has tweaked that narrative to position herself
as the sole defender of Bengali identity. This pivot is strategic—it allows her to counter the BJP’s Hindutva appeal with a regionalist, sub-nationalist pitch. However, critics argue that her rhetoric risks polarizing the state further, especially given her overt reliance on Muslim vote banks, which has, over the years, led to accusations of fostering “mini Muslim regions” within Bengal.

Mamata’s rise was itself a revolt against Bengal’s entrenched Marxist regime, which ruled for over three decades. She broke the Left’s stranglehold by positioning herself as the voice of the oppressed, channeling public fatigue with communist stagnation. Yet, some argue she has adopted the same autocratic tendencies she once opposed—using state machinery to crush dissent, much like the Left did in its heyday.

Yet, Mamata’s resilience cannot be underestimated. She remains one of the few opposition leaders who has consistently opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, refusing to align with him even as others have softened their stance. Her victory in the 2021 elections, despite the BJP’s massive campaign, proved her ability to mobilize voters against a national wave. Her street-fighter image, combined with welfare schemes and a fiercely regionalist stance, makes her a formidable opponent.

However, the 2026 elections will test her like never before. The BJP has deepened its organizational roots in Bengal, and Mamata’s anti-CAA, anti-NRC stance may not resonate as strongly as before. Moreover, her governance record—marked by allegations of corruption, political violence, and sluggish industrial growth—could undermine her cultural nationalism pitch.

Mamata’s strength lies in her ability to make every election a referendum on Bengali pride versus “outsider influence.” But whether identity politics alone can override anti-incumbency and BJP’s growing clout remains uncertain. As Bengal braces for another high-stakes battle, Mamata’s survival hinges on convincing voters that she—and not the BJP—is the true guardian of Bengal’s soul. The coming months will reveal if her narrative holds, or if the electorate seeks change beyond symbolism.