Street Protests to Saffron Sweep: The Unstoppable Rise and Stunning Fall of Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee built her legend on the streets of Kolkata.

A middle-class girl from Kalighat who unseated a CPI(M) stalwart at 29, she spent three decades dismantling the Left's grip over West Bengal, only to see her Trinamool Congress (TMC) empire collapse before a resurgent BJP in the 2026 West Bengal election. The woman who once declared she was the candidate from all seats lost her own.

Banerjee defeated CPI(M) heavyweight Somnath Chatterjee in Jadavpur in her very first Lok Sabha battle. That audacity became her political signature for the next four decades.

What Pushed Mamata Banerjee to Break From Congress and Build TMC?

After walking out of Congress, Banerjee founded TMC in 1998 and launched street agitations against Left Front atrocities in Keshpur and Garbeta from 2000. A decade of relentless protest politics followed.

Did Nandigram and Singur Hand Her Bengal on a Platter?

Her anti-land acquisition campaigns tapped deep agrarian anger and fuelled the anti-incumbency a 34-year Left government could not outlast. TMC swept to power in 2011, ending three decades of Communist rule.

Did Eliminating the Opposition Cost Mamata Banerjee Her Legacy?

According to Hindustan Times, several TMC leaders privately admitted that Banerjee's push to create an opposition-free Bengal became the seed of her downfall. With no functioning rival, voter frustration had nowhere to go but outward.

Did Welfare Schemes Fail to Shield TMC From Corruption Charges?

The Sandeshkhali incident in 2024 had severely damaged the party’s image regarding women's safety. The government was initially accused of shielding the accused, Shajahan Sheikh, who was apprehended after 55 days. The Mamata government had faced criticism over alleged handling of the investigation and initial evidence tampering claims regarding the RG Kar Medical College case.

Banerjee countered the Saradha and Narada cases with schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar. Reportedly, Durga Puja grants grew to Rs 1.10 lakh per committee by 2025, totalling around Rs 495 crore. BJP countered with a promise of Rs 3,000 a month, doubling her offer.

Did the Electoral Roll Revision Redraw Bengal's Political Map?

The Election Commission's special intensive revision (SIR) deleted nearly 91 lakh names. In 169 constituencies where deletions exceeded 25,000 voters, BJP's tally reportedly surged from 41 seats in 2021 to around 100 in 2026.

Why Did Banerjee's Most Loyal Voters Walk Away?

Women, historically Banerjee's strongest base, reportedly shifted toward BJP's higher cash promise. BJP also arranged trains for around 2.2 million migrant workers to return and vote. At 71, Banerjee addressed 90 rallies and led 22 roadshows. Bengal still turned saffron.

The fall of Mamata Banerjee is the story of a movement that succeeded so completely it stopped self-correcting. TMC now rebuilds from opposition benches. Whether Banerjee, ever the street fighter, has one final campaign left remains Bengal's most consequential open question.

(With inputs from yMedia)