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After five days of continuous protest in the heart of Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of her dharna at Dharmatala. The decision came shortly after a major development in the Supreme Court regarding the alleged removal of more than one crore valid voters from the electoral rolls in Bengal.
The protest, which quickly turned into a major political flashpoint ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, was called by Mamata Banerjee to oppose what the Trinamool Congress described as a “systematic attempt” to disenfranchise legitimate voters in the state.
The Chief Minister decided to withdraw the agitation after Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee personally requested her to do so following what the party described as a significant legal victory in the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court’s Intervention Changes the Political Mood
The turning point came after the Supreme Court issued directions aimed at ensuring that no eligible voter is excluded from the electoral rolls. According to the development cited by Trinamool leaders, the Chief Justice of India directed that a special tribunal be formed under the leadership of a former Chief Justice to oversee disputes related to the voter list process.
The move effectively placed an additional layer of judicial oversight above the Election Commission’s handling of the matter.
For the Trinamool Congress, this development was projected as a major victory in their campaign to protect voting rights in Bengal.
Addressing the gathering at the dharna stage after the court’s order, Abhishek Banerjee urged Mamata Banerjee to conclude the protest.
“I want to request Didi that the Supreme Court of the country has recognized the concerns raised by you. This is a victory for Bengal,” he said during his speech.
Abhishek also emphasized that the political struggle would continue in other forms.
“We still have to continue this fight for the next 50 to 55 days. This movement will continue till April 30. For the interests of 10 crore people of Bengal, you need to remain healthy and strong. We will handle the rest,” he said.
His speech was greeted with loud applause from Trinamool supporters present at the protest site.
Mamata Accepts Abhishek’s Request
Responding to Abhishek’s appeal, Mamata Banerjee announced that the protest would be temporarily withdrawn.
“We have been on the streets for five days. Since we have received some measure of justice and after consulting everyone, Abhishek has suggested that we withdraw the dharna for now. We are accepting his proposal,” she told supporters from the stage.
However, the Chief Minister made it clear that the larger battle over voter rights in Bengal was far from over.
‘The Game Is Now in the Supreme Court’
Mamata Banerjee used the moment to underline the continuing legal battle surrounding the voter list issue.
“The game is now in the hands of the Supreme Court,” she declared.
According to her, the court has made it clear that the matter will remain under judicial consideration even after the announcement of election dates.
“My petition is still pending. Even if elections are announced, do not think there will be no remedy,” Mamata said.
She also referred to the Supreme Court’s observation that voters who find their names missing from the electoral rolls even at the last moment could approach the court for relief.
“The court has said that even if someone’s name is missing from the voter list a day before the election, they can come to us. We will treat it as a special case,” she explained.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for the 25th of this month.
Mamata also pointed out that even if the Election Commission announces polling dates in mid-April, the legal scrutiny of the voter list process will continue.
“This fight will not end simply because elections are announced,” she said.
Abhishek Banerjee Targets the Election Commission
During his speech, Abhishek Banerjee sharply criticized the Election Commission, accusing it of deliberately delaying the voter list verification process.
According to him, technical glitches in the Commission’s digital systems were intentionally being created to slow down the judicial review of electoral records.
“The Election Commission is deliberately creating errors in its application systems so that the legal process gets delayed and the preparation of the voter list is pushed back,” Abhishek alleged.
He further claimed that the Supreme Court had strongly reprimanded the Election Commission during the proceedings.
Tribunal to Oversee Appeals
One of the key outcomes of the Supreme Court’s direction, as highlighted by Trinamool leaders, is the formation of an appeal tribunal bench comprising retired judges under the supervision of the Calcutta High Court.
This tribunal will hear complaints from voters whose names have been excluded from the electoral rolls.
According to Abhishek Banerjee, this mechanism will ensure that legitimate voters are not deprived of their democratic rights.
“The Supreme Court has ensured that those who were excluded from the voter list will not be denied justice,” he said.
‘Victory of Democracy and Maa-Mati-Manush’
Trinamool leaders repeatedly described the court’s intervention as a moral and political victory for the party’s long-running slogan of “Maa-Mati-Manush”.
“This is the victory of democracy. It is the victory of the people of Bengal,” Abhishek said.
He also credited Mamata Banerjee’s protest for bringing national attention to the issue.
“This victory belongs to the relentless struggle of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the continuous fight of the Trinamool Congress,” he added.
The Battle Continues
Despite the withdrawal of the dharna, Trinamool leaders signaled that their political campaign over the voter list controversy will continue across the state.
Abhishek Banerjee urged party workers to remain vigilant at the grassroots level.
“If any valid voter’s name has been removed illegally, they must submit Form 6 and apply for re-enrolment in the electoral roll,” he said.
He also noted that the Supreme Court had assured strict monitoring of the entire process.
“The court has said it will keep a close watch on the developments, and if needed we can approach it again,” Abhishek stated.
For now, the protest at Dharmatala has ended. But in the politically charged atmosphere of Bengal, the debate over voter rights, electoral procedures, and institutional oversight is only beginning to intensify.
With the 2026 Assembly elections drawing closer, the issue could shape the next phase of Bengal’s political battle.
