Ahead of 2026 Assembly polls, CM Mamata going on a 3-day visit to North Bengal; TMC expects more Oppn leaders to join party

To strengthen Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) presence in North Bengal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will embark on a three-day trip to the area starting May 19, particularly as the 2026 Assembly election approaches in just a few months.

Days prior to her visit, the party camp was invigorated when ex-Union Minister of State and BJP MP John Barla joined TMC on May 15. The party members suspect that the CM’s trip to North Bengal will entice additional Opposition leaders to join TMC, thus reinforcing their position in a relatively weaker front in North Bengal.

Banerjee has announced that she will be present at a “synergy” business conference on Monday and at a government distribution programme in Odlabari on Tuesday. The Chief Minister’s primary event is scheduled for Wednesday, when she will take part in an administrative review meeting at Uttar Kanya, which officials from all district administrations will attend.

Officials from the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Coochbehar will be present at the meeting in person, while representatives from Maldah, Uttar Dinajpur, and Dakshin Dinajpur will join the meeting online.

“After this year’s Durga Puja, the state will enter the election mode. So, we have four to five months to complete all the development work. The Chief Minister wants to review all these works and set a timeline to complete all the projects properly,” a senior officer of state administration said.

A senior TMC leader expressed optimism in improving their result in North Bengal. “Not only John Barla, another BJP MLA, Suman Kanjilal joined our team, which has also strengthened our organisation. We are expecting more BJP MLAs and leaders to join our party, and we will knock down the footings of the BJP in North Bengal. This time the BJP may gain in South Bengal, but they will lose in North Bengal.”