Standing before a sea of supporters at the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) flagship Shahid Diwas rally in 2023, Rajanya Haldar delivered a rousing speech that drew even the veteran leaders to the edge of their seats. Her rhythmic and fiery slogan “Julmi jab jab julum karega…chappa chappa gunj uthegi Mamtadidi ke naaro se” instantly went viral, signalling the emergence of a new political voice.
In a political landscape where prominence is built over decades, Rajanya was reckoned as a household name almost overnight after her 2023 speech.
Her upward trajectory was unusually swift. She soon became the face of the TMC’s student wing and was handpicked by party supremo Mamata Banerjee to lead the organisation at Jadavpur University, a perennially sensitive political nerve centre.
Cut to 2026, once a rising star within the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), Rajanya has now transitioned from being a loyal party mobiliser and fiery sloganeer to contesting as an independent candidate, set to take on two other women, actor and TMC candidate Lovely Maitra, and Draupadi actor and BJP nominee Rupa Ganguly from Sonarpur Dakshin Assembly constituency.
Once a leading voice of the TMC’s youth base, the Sonarpur native is now forging an independent path, stepping into the state elections not under the party’s twin-flower symbol, but as an Independent candidate representing her own Jansangram Manch.
For the upcoming polls, Rajanya is contesting from two seats. One her home turf Sonarpur Dakshin where she faces off with the two television stars; and against BJP’s Agnimitra Paul and TMC’s Tapas Banerjee in Asansol Dakshin, expanding her reach into the industrial heartland.
Rajanya forayed into politics in 2017 after winning the Class Representative (CR) election at Presidency University as an independent candidate. She won the elections again in 2019. In 2022, when the TMC unit was launched at the university, Rajanya was already an alumna. Within a couple of days, she was barred from entering the campus on the grounds of being a former student. That day, she scaled the university gate with the party flag in hand, bringing her into the spotlight.
Rajanya grew up in a household with a background rooted in Congress politics. Her father was a leader of the party’s Chhatra Parishad before joining TMC and serving in West Bengal College and University Professors’ Association (WBCUPA).
Soon after the Jansangram Manch announced her candidature, Rajanya became vocal against the ruling TMC and Opposition BJP, acknowledging that while they might not form the government in 2026, backing off from the fight is not an option.
“Jansangram is a manch. We are fighting independently from seven seats. I am contesting from Sonarpur Dakshin and Asansol Dakshin. Our intention is very clear. We know that we cannot form the government in 2026 but we can play an important role by contributing in its formation. People are extending their warmth whenever I go for door-to-door campaigns. Today there are two major problems, unemployment and women safety. It is not just RG Kar, there have been several other incidents, including Kasba law college, Kultali etc. Regardless of electoral outcome, we will continue to fight for the people,” Rajanya told The Indian Express.
She also pointed out the poor infrastructure of her area, including water logging and drinking water issues.
However, Rajanya’s political journey has been riddled with controversy. In the wake of the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder in 2024, when she was the vice-president of the TMCP for the Jadavpur organisational unit, she drew the ire of her party for making a short film centred on the “Tilottama” protests. She was suspended from the party and a probe committee was formed against her.
Despite the pressure, she remained steadfast in her decision to release the film. Her distance with the TMC widened further following allegations of a gang rape at Kasba Law College. During the statewide tension, she made an explosive claim, alleging that a section of the TMC was circulating objectionable AI-generated images of junior members within the party, a comment that drew sharp attacks from party insiders. While rumours circulated in late 2025 regarding her potential defection to the BJP, Rajanya dismissed them.
She studied in Jadavpur Vidyapith till Class 10, then moved to Binodini Girls’ High School for her higher secondary education. She did her graduation in Bengali from Presidency University, followed by a Master’s degree. She also did her B.Ed. from Jadavpur University. A gold medallist in Masters, Rajanya is also the lead female vocalist of “Joyi”, a musical band formed by the Chief Minister. She also takes an interest in poetry, frequently performs at the West Bengal Sahitya Akademi, and is an avid rock climber.
“In the tough world of Bengal politics, her ascent has been faster than anyone else. But she didn’t just get famous. She has now proven herself as a rebel who would rather fight alone than follow orders she didn’t believe in,” said a local voter of Sonarpur Dakshin.
“Rajanya was suspended from the TMC in 2024. She founded the Jansangram Manch ahead of the 2026 elections. After no ticket from the TMC- BJP, Rajanya decided to fight as an Independent. This is a democratic country and everyone has the right to fight elections. As far as winning is concerned, people will vote for Mamata Banerjee on all seats,” said a local TMC leader from Sonarpur Dakshin.