Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to address a political public meeting at Gazole in Malda district tentatively on 3 December, amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
This comes at a time when the BJP leadership has been alleging that Bangladeshi Muslims and even Rohingyas must be removed from the electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Malda District Magistrate Preeti Goyal and Superintendent of Police Pradeep Kumar Yadav, along with other officials, visited the Gazole College Ground on Thursday to inspect the venue earmarked for the Chief Minister’s meeting.
The Trinamul Congress leadership also held a preparatory meeting on Thursday to mobilise people from all Assembly constituencies of Malda district. Party leaders have drawn up plans to bring at least 50,000 people to the Gazole College Ground, though the field is not adequately equipped to accommodate such a large crowd.
Malda district TMC president Rahim Boxi held a meeting with leaders at district and block levels to review preparations.
It may be noted that TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee recently held a virtual meeting with the district leaders, instructing them to work seriously during the SIR process and begin groundwork for the 2026 Assembly elections.
Gazole, an Assembly segment under the Uttar Malda Parliamentary constituency, has seen significant political shifts. After the Left lost control, the BJP managed to establish a strong base in this tribal-dominated seat. Though TMC could not win the North Malda Lok Sabha seat, Mamata Banerjee’s party has secured several Assembly segments in Malda that were traditionally held by the Congress and the Left even during the 2011 and 2016 elections.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rahim Boxi said: “We have started preparations to bring around 50,000 people for the Chief Minister’s rally on 3 December. Her visit to Malda is crucial to counter the BJP’s narrative being spread amid the SIR. The Chief Minister will tell the people that the BJP is not their friend — only TMC stands by them.”
He further alleged that the BJP has been spreading confusion among voters regarding the SIR by raising issues of alleged infiltrators, including Rohingyas.