West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has vowed to keep his predecessor, Mamata Banerjee, off the streets. While addressing a press conference at the State Secretariat on Monday, August 24, 2026, Adhikari stated, ’Remain active on facebook. You will not have to go out on the streets anymore.
I will also make arrangements so that you cannot go out on the streets.’ Banerjee, who had earlier reiterated that she will not be pushed into a political sanyas, described Adhikari’s remark as a threat. She took to social media to express her concerns, calling upon the President of India, the Chief Justice of India, and the people of India to take note of the situation. Several leaders of the Trinamool Congress joined Banerjee in condemning Adhikari’s statement.
Adhikari’s comment comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is facing an existential crisis, with many of its MPs and MLAs switching sides to join the BJP, which has 207 MLAs in a 294 member house. He cited the instances of Baruipur, where a minor was raped and killed, and Halisahar, where a Trinamool supporter was killed in police custody, saying that Banerjee failed to take action in both cases. Despite this, Banerjee remains a key leader in the state, and her rivalry with Adhikari is expected to continue.
The two have a history of electoral contests, with Adhikari defeating Banerjee in Nandigram in the 2021 Assembly polls and again in Bhabanipur in 2026. The current situation in West Bengal has also seen protests from women who were denied cash incentives under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme, which was promised by the BJP during the election campaign. Banerjee sees this as an opportunity to revive her credibility and that of her party.
There is also unease among leaders who left the Trinamool Congress to join the BJP, particularly those from the minority community, which could be a silver lining for Banerjee. For Adhikari, the challenge is how long he can keep Banerjee confined to her residence and social media. The rivalry between the two leaders is expected to continue, with the people of West Bengal likely to see them taking on each other in the days to come.
The politics in West Bengal has been hinged on the contest between Banerjee and Adhikari, with the former wanting to pass on the baton to her nephew and the latter emerging as a strong rival. The 2026 Assembly polls may not be the end of their political rivalry, and the state is likely to witness more clashes between the two leaders in the future.
