Opinion | BJP Rules Out Trinamoolisation' Ahead Of Civic Polls, But Can It Afford To?

Updated: Oct 26, 2026 16:57 pm IST Published On Oct 26, 2026 16:57 pm IST Last Updated On Oct 26, 2026 16:57 pm IST

Published On Oct 26, 2026 16:57 pm IST

Last Updated On Oct 26, 2026 16:57 pm IST

BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya has made the party's position clear, saying that the BJP will contest the Kolkata Municipal Corporation election independently and does not need any other party's support. According to this position, there will be no coalition or electoral adjustment with any faction of the Trinamool Congress. However, on the occasion of Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, Adhikari visited the North Kolkata residence of MP and NCPI leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay at his invitation. He was accompanied by Transport Minister Arjun Singh.

The BJP had so far been maintaining a distance from the TMC. Former BJP state president and Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar had also said that dissident Trinamool workers may ring the BJP's doorbell, but the party will not open the door to them.

The BJP's public position is therefore unambiguous: it intends to fight the civic elections on its own and does not want to be seen as accommodating disgruntled Trinamool leaders simply to strengthen its electoral prospects.

But how much of this confidence reflects the party's actual internal assessment, and how much is intended to shape public perception before the elections?

The BJP believes it can perform exceptionally well in the coming civic polls, drawing confidence from its recent electoral performance, including the Assembly by-elections. The real question is whether this confidence is backed by a detailed understanding of the ground situation or is primarily part of the party's public messaging.

The internal electoral strategy will be crucial in determining whether the BJP can translate its political momentum into victories at the municipal level.

Seven Civic Bodies in the First Phase

The upcoming contest is not limited to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. According to the election preparations reported so far, the first phase is expected to cover seven urban local bodies: the Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporations, along with the municipalities of Bally, Haldia, Dhupguri, Kalimpong and Kurseong. The State Election Commission has been preparing for the polls, although the final schedule remains subject to official notification.

The elections are politically significant because municipal bodies deal directly with the everyday concerns of urban residents. They also provide parties with an opportunity to assess their organisational strength beyond Assembly and parliamentary elections.

For the BJP, therefore, the civic polls will be a test not only of its popularity but also of its ability to identify suitable candidates, manage local political equations and address issues that directly affect voters.

Is the Trinamool Losing Touch with the Ground?

The BJP's assessment is that the Trinamool Congress leadership in Kalighat, associated with Mamata Banerjee, has become increasingly disconnected from the realities on the ground. According to this view, the anti-incumbency that has accumulated over 15 years of Trinamool rule remains a significant factor in the political atmosphere.

The BJP believes that this discontent extends to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, where dissatisfaction with the existing administration could create an opportunity for the opposition.

One of the central themes of the BJP's campaign is the historical and cultural identity of Kolkata and its municipal leadership. The party points to figures such as Chittaranjan Das and Subhas Chandra Bose, who served as mayors of Calcutta, to argue that the city has a distinguished political and........

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