SIR: Mamata Banerjee is busy holding rallies in election mode, preparing to corner the BJP on the SIR issue.

The ongoing SIR in Bengal is being opposed by Mamata Banerjee's party, the TMC. Despite the opposition, the SIR process is progressing rapidly. Mamata Banerjee has now decided to mobilize public opinion to blunt the edge of the SIR. As part of this, Mamata Banerjee will be holding a series of rallies in election mode. This week, she will hold massive rallies in Malda and Murshidabad, and next week, she will address a large rally in Cooch Behar to corner the central government.

Preparations to corner the BJP on the SIR issue

It is noteworthy that Mamata Banerjee previously held a rally against the SIR in Bongaon last week. This rally was held in an area dominated by the Matua community, who are fearful of the SIR. During the rally, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the SIR is being used to intimidate families. The TMC has also intensified its campaign against the SIR at the district level. TMC leaders said that Mamata Banerjee will address rallies in Malda and Murshidabad on December 3 and 4. She will also hold a rally in Cooch Behar on December 9th.

All three of these districts are border districts and are home to a large number of minority communities, migrants, and displaced people. These communities are particularly apprehensive about the SIR. This is why the TMC is attempting to capitalise on this fear and apprehension and gain an advantage in the 2026 assembly elections. These rallies are being seen as a show of strength by the TMC.

The TMC has also become active at the organisational level.

The Malda rally is scheduled to be held in Gajole, and the Murshidabad rally at the Behrampur Stadium. The Cooch Behar rally, scheduled to be held at the historic Ras Mela Ground on December 9th, is being presented as Mamata Banerjee's biggest mobilization. Announcing the preparations, district TMC president Abhijit Dey Bhowmik said that an emergency meeting will be held with block presidents on December 1, followed by a district-level preparatory session at Rabindra Bhavan on December 2, where ministers, party MPs and MLAs, as well as councillors and panchayat officials, will discuss the plan for the Chief Minister's rally.