All India Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressing an Id-ul-Fitr rally at Red Road in Kolkata on March 21, 2026 | Photo credit: ANI
Major political parties used the Id-ul-Fitr festivities to highlight their electoral narrative and target their political opponents in poll-bound West Bengal on Saturday (March 21, 2026). Like every year, Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee attended the Id-ul-Fitr prayers on Kolkata’s Red Road where she targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“When you go abroad, you shake hands with leaders and talk about friendship. It’s your choice and I respect all countries. But when you come back to India, suddenly the Hindu-Muslim narrative starts and people are called infiltrators,” Ms Banerjee said, targeting Mr Modi. She called the prime minister and his government “the biggest infiltrator”.
Ms Banerjee said she would oppose any attempt to take away voting rights. “We will not allow Modi ji and the BJP to take away your voting rights. We will fight till the end,” she told the rally.
In the past few months, the Chief Minister has criticized the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying it is an attempt to take away voting rights from the people of the state.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister visited certain neighborhoods of the city such as Collin Lane, Ripon Street and Beck Bagan to interact with residents on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr.
“I remain deeply concerned about the ongoing challenges faced by many citizens regarding their rightful place on the electoral rolls. I have approached the appropriate legal forums, including the honorable courts, with the hope that the constitutional rights of each individual will be protected,” she said in a statement on social media.
Since the Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011, the party has been supported by Muslims, who make up about 27% of the state’s electorate.
He prayed for the welfare of sanatanis: Suvendu
On a day when the chief minister was participating in Id festivities, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari offered prayers at the Kalighat temple in the city.
Raising the Hindutva pitch, Mr. Adhikari said he was praying for the welfare of the “sanatanis” and that there was no attack on Hindus and their places of worship. The BJP leader also said that he prays that incidents like rape and murder do not happen again at RG Kar Hospital.
“Anyone who calls the prime minister of the country an infiltrator does not deserve to hold a constitutional office. I think she has lost her mind, she should visit Ranchi immediately (referring to a mental health facility in Ranchi),” Mr Adhikari said.
The LOP, which is contesting against the Chief Minister in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, claimed that Ms. Banerjee would not win the seat. Instead, he said, she should try her luck in the minority-dominated Metiabruz in Calcutta.
Mr. Adhikari started campaigning in Bhabanipur and Chief Minister will start campaigning after Id.
Ms Banerjee, who spoke in the evening about “divisive forces” trying to “break our social fabric”, visited the temple. “Smt. Mamata Banerjee offered her prayers at the Maa Bagalamukhi temple and sought the divine blessings of the Mother Goddess for the continued protection and well-being of Maa, Mati, Manush of Bengal,” Trinamool Congress posted on social media.
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.
Published – 21 March 2026 14:44 IST
