Only TMC can defeat BJP, Abhishek tells migrant workers at Malda rally
Times of India | 9 January 2026
Malda/Kolkata: Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday said only Trinamool was capable of taking on BJP and defeating it out of all political parties in the country.
"Out of 1,500 political parties in the country, only Trinamool has the strength to teach BJP a lesson. Every other party surrendered before them. We are the ones who defeat BJP. This is the difference," said Banerjee while addressing migrant workers in Malda.
Banerjee said the end of BJP will begin from Bengal. "By 2029, BJP will be finished. But if we are divided, BJP will benefit. They divided the people of Bihar and won there. In Bengal, people are united, and that is why BJP is breaking apart here," he said.
"(Other) Opposition parties struck deals with BJP. Did you see Congress helping people? That's why Congress keeps losing to BJP. In Meghalaya, Trinamool is in opposition. All five Congress MLAs joined NDA. Not a single Trinamool MLA changed camps. In other states, BJP purchases MLAs. They overturn govts. That doesn't happen in Bengal. Here, Trinamool defeats BJP. Trinamool stands for temple, mosque and church, all at once," added Banerjee.
Without naming suspended Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir, Banerjee said, "The candidate of BJP in 2019 polls is now building Babri Masjid. He is trying to divide people in the name of religion and extract money from the public. No religion preaches division."
Banerjee assured that none of the migrant workers would have to go out of state if Trinamool returns to govt. "None will have to go to other states for work once we come into govt for the fourth time. With our youths working at their home, Bengal will become self-dependent," he said .
Hundreds of migrant workers and their families attended the meeting held at Jalanga under Malda Police Station. Some of them shared the stage with Banerjee and shared their tales of torture in other states.
Along with BJP, Congress also came under severe attack from Banerjee for failing to stop attacks on Bengalis. "The party in power will change. BJP will not remain forever, but the Constitution will. A lesson will be taught. This (attacks on migrants from Bengal) is not happening only in BJP-run states, but in Telangana and Karnataka as well, where Congress is in govt," he said.
"The MP of Malda Dakshin, Isha Khan Chaudhuri, is from Congress. Did he stand with the people in their time of need? Could he not call officials in Telangana and Karnataka to help Bengali migrant labourers there? BJP is trying to block all our developmental schemes. Did Congress netas write even a single letter to protest against this?" asked Banerjee.
Referring to the torture Bengali workers faced in other states, Banerjee said, "Our fight does not end with bringing the tortured workers back home. Take it from me, we shall fight each of the police atrocities legally in court. The offenders must be punished." On Thursday, Sajenur Khatun of Chanchal recalled the horror of her torture in Delhi. She claimed that despite showing all her documents, she and her family were dragged to Madhubihar police station and labelled Bangladeshi.
A similar tale came from Rafikul Biswas, who was tortured and jailed by police in Karnataka. The widow of Parimal Ghosh narrated how her husband was killed in Rajasthan. Binoy Besra of Gazole, who was tortured and had to flee from Odisha, claimed that his MP Khagen Murmu did not pay any heed to his woes.
Banerjee said, "If these people are labelled Bangladeshi for speaking in Bengali, then why should Khagen Murmu, Sukanta Majumdar or Suvendu Adhikari not be called Bangladeshi?"
PM Narendra Modi will visit Malda on Jan 17. Referring to the visit, Banerjee said, "I heard that the PM will come here after a week. I promise to come in Feb again and show a teaser for BJP." After the meeting, Banerjee shared lunch with the workers before leaving Malda.