As West Bengal approaches the 2026 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is reportedly employing multifaceted strategies to counter communal polarization, including addressing concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and responding to contentious issues like the Babri Masjid.

The SIR Controversy

The TMC has launched a political outreach focusing on districts affected by the ongoing SIR process, alleging that it is an attempt by the BJP to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and exclude genuine voters. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reassured residents that her government would not allow any eviction and that the TMC stands by them. The party views the SIR process as a potential threat to its organizational foundation and electoral support, especially in regions where people fear displacement or disenfranchisement. TMC has claimed that 39 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have died in West Bengal since the beginning of the SIR drive and that the BLOs are working under 'tremendous pressure'. The Election Commission (ECI) has appointed a special roll observer for the SIR exercise in West Bengal and directed the state's Director General of Police to ensure the security of BLOs during the SIR exercise.

Babri Masjid Issue

The construction of a Babri Masjid replica by suspended TMC leader Humayun Kabir in Murshidabad has triggered political turmoil in Bengal. The TMC has distanced itself from Kabir's initiative, with a spokesperson reiterating that Bengal's political tradition does not endorse competitive religious mobilization and that faith is a personal matter. Following the laying of the foundation stone for the mosque, Kabir was suspended by the Trinamool Congress, which cited communal politics as the grounds for its action. Mamata Banerjee has said that Murshidabad would never accept "politics of riots" and that some "traitors take BJP's money to stoke communal tensions".

TMC's Broader Strategy

The TMC's ticket distribution strategy in the upcoming elections indicates an attempt to counter the BJP's strategy. In the 2021 elections, Mamata Banerjee recited from Hindu scriptures (Chandipath) while addressing an election rally in Nandigram, in an effort to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) religious polarisation strategy in the state. The party is trying to retain the support of the minority community, which makes up close to 30 per cent of the electorate, while countering signs of erosion in its Hindu voter base amid rising identity-driven politics. TMC's Kunal Ghosh has warned against turning the state into a testing ground for polarisation strategies imported from elsewhere.

The TMC is also focusing on highlighting the development work done at the local level in areas where the party runs panchayats and municipalities. Mamata Banerjee has outlined the poll strategy of Trinamool Congress as the "return of peace and development" to Bengal and her "achievements" as railway minister. Political analysts suggest that the TMC's emphasis on districts with significant minority populations is strategically sound, as these regions have witnessed communal tensions and shifts in political alignment.

Challenges and Counter Narratives

The BJP has accused Mamata Banerjee of deliberately fueling religious polarization in the state by allowing Humayun Kabir to polarize Muslims. BJP leaders have alleged that the demand to build a Babri Masjid in West Bengal is part of a "conspiracy underway to create Bangladesh" in the state. Congress leaders have cautioned against repeating history, warning that competitive communalism has well-documented consequences.

Overall, the Trinamool Congress appears to be navigating a complex political landscape, balancing the need to address genuine grievances, counter communal narratives, and maintain its support base across different communities as the 2026 elections draw closer.