Mamata Banerjee’s Muslim vote bank is shifting allegiance and if the party fails to take notice of the situation then 2026 Assembly poll results could see the Trinamool Congress losing in many seats, warned senior Trinamool Congress MLA and former minister from Murshidabad Humayun Kabir.
“If something is not done about the eroding Muslim vote base then the party will suffer badly in 2026, it will go nowhere near the targeted 215 seat mark,” said Kabir.
Referring to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s target of 215 seats, Kabir said, “There is good possibility of the TMC not reaching even 200 mark because the Muslim voters are gradually moving away from the TMC.”
He further said, “The section of electorate that has been voting in favour of the TMC overwhelmingly may not do so in 2026, which means the number of seats may go down maybe 195-198.”
The TMC’s failure to put up a credible movement against the new Waqf Act by the TMC in Bengal would go against its electoral fortunes in the State, he added.
“About 90 per cent of the Muslims population have been voting in favour of the TMC, which is why the Left and the Congress which had a formidable organisational base in Murshidabad, Malda and North Dinajpur have been reduced to zero but the question is whether that situation will not change, yes it is likely to change because the TMC has failed to take credible stance against Waqf Amendment Act. There has been loots and vandalism and murder in Murshidabad in the name of anti-Waqf agitation, allowing the BJP to consolidate its position which has again created a suspicion among the Muslims regarding the TMC. There has been no real political movement as such in Bengal though the TMC is a strong party here, this has not been taken kindly by the members of the Muslim community,” he further said.