Kolkata, Dec. 27 – As West Bengal gears up for the 2026 assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is confronting a host of issues that could threaten its electoral strength. A series of social, political, and legal controversies that unfolded in 2025 have sharpened the opposition’s attack lines, making the upcoming polls one of the most scrutinised for TMC and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee since the party’s 2011 rise to power.
Murshidabad communal unrest
In April, the minority‑heavy district of Murshidabad erupted into violence after protests over the newly enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act turned chaotic. The Calcutta High Court’s division bench said that had the state government acted more swiftly—particularly by deploying central armed forces—the escalation could have been avoided. A month later, a district court handed life‑sentences to thirteen men linked to the riots; all were close aides of the TMC. The BJP exploited this verdict to claim that the state police were biased, a narrative that political analysts say will be difficult for the TMC to rebuke.
Waqf property registration rift
During the first half of 2025, Mamata Banerjee pledged that the Waqf (Amendment) Act would never be implemented in West Bengal. Yet, in the second half, the state issued a hurried notification directing the registration of Waqf properties on the UMEED Portal within an exceedingly short deadline. Opposition parties—including the CPI(M)-led Left Front, the Congress, and the All India Secular Front—capitalised on this reversal, accusing the TMC of double standards. Analysts argue that while the Murshidabad incidents alienated many Hindu voters, the abrupt policy change angered a substantial Muslim electorate.
Supreme Court’s wipe‑out of 26,000 school jobs
In April, a Supreme Court division bench upheld the Calcutta High Court’s order to cancel 25,753 teaching and non‑teaching vacancies across state schools, citing widespread recruitment irregularities. The apex court agreed with the Calcutta High Court’s observation that the entire panel had to be scrapped because the government failed to supply separate lists distinguishing the “tainted” from the “untainted” candidates. Although the West Bengal government began a new recruitment drive, it remains mired in legal friction, undermining confidence in its administrative processes. Opposition parties now portray any “fair” recruitment under TMC as impractical.
Lingering R.G. Kar murder case
The August 2024 rap‑and‑murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College continued to cast a shadow over the TMC throughout 2025. While the Supreme Court ultimately withdrew from the case, proceedings are still active in the Calcutta High Court and lower courts. Public sentiment deems the ruling party culpable for allegedly shielding key conspirators and retaliating against junior doctors who led protests after the incident. These accusations of retaliatory transfers have further eroded the TMC’s reputation.
Kasba Law College gang‑rape incident
Another major scandal erupted in 2025 when a law student was raped on her college campus in Kasba, Kolkata. All three accused were reportedly active members of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the party’s student wing. Opposition parties used the incident to argue that educational institutions in West Bengal have become strongholds for politically backed hardliners, a claim that hurts the TMC’s image among constituents concerned about safety and justice.
DA arrears and contempt threat
The Supreme Court has directed the state to clear 25 % of dearness allowance arrears owed to state employees by June 30. The government’s failure to meet this deadline has attracted the threat of contempt of court. Although the West Bengal government filed a review petition with the apex court, legal experts express doubts that such a petition safeguards it from contempt charges.
These intertwined controversies—ranging from communal violence and policy missteps to legal backlashes over jobs, alleged cover‑ups, and financial liabilities—are poised to shape the political narrative ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections. For the TMC and Mamata Banerjee, navigating these challenges will be essential to retaining voter trust and securing a decisive victory.
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