Trinamool Congress launches 60-day outreach drive in SC/ST seats, steps up attack on BJP

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday announced a 60-day mass outreach programme across 84 Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) dominated Assembly constituencies in West Bengal as part of its preparations for the upcoming state elections.

The campaign, titled “Tapashilir Sanglap” , will begin on March 5 after Holi , TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said while addressing party workers. Under the initiative, teams of three to five members will travel in special vehicles to villages and booth areas to engage directly with voters.

Banerjee said the drive aims to highlight the state government’s welfare schemes and counter what he described as the BJP’s continuous neglect and disrespect of marginalised communities. He urged party workers to intensify efforts over the next two months, stressing that the responsibility for winning the 84 targeted seats rested with them.

Attacking the BJP, Banerjee referred to an alleged incident involving members of the Matua community during the inauguration of the Ram Mandir and accused the party of attempting to dilute constitutional safeguards for SCs and STs framed by B R Ambedkar .

He also accused the Centre of imposing a “financial blockade” on West Bengal by withholding funds for central schemes, including the rural employment programme. Challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Banerjee claimed that no money had been released for beneficiaries in the state over the last five years.

According to him, despite the alleged halt in central assistance, the state government led by Mamata Banerjee had provided houses to more than 32 lakh beneficiaries using its own funds. He further alleged that tax revenues collected from Bengal were diverted to other states.

Banerjee criticised BJP leaders over remarks on Bengalis’ food habits and took a swipe at the party’s Rath Yatra campaign, urging TMC workers to respond politically. He called on party cadres to secure a fourth consecutive term for the TMC and reduce the BJP’s presence in the Assembly to zero.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are expected to be held in April.