West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday evening ended her five-day sit-in protest at Esplanade, saying the next phase of the movement for justice in the ongoing SIR in West Bengal would now begin through other avenues.
Announcing the withdrawal of the dharna, Mamata said the decision was taken after discussions with TMC’s general secretary Abhishek Banerjee as well as party leaders and activists who had gathered at the protest site. She added that the struggle would continue, drawing parallels with earlier movements that reshaped the state’s political history.
Referring to the agitations in Singur and Nandigram, Mamata said history often repeats itself and that the current movement could mark the beginning of another major political phase. She recalled her 26-day hunger strike during the Singur movement and said she would not hesitate to continue protests for even longer if necessary.
The Chief Minister also announced that she would meet West Bengal Governor C. V. Ananda Bose directly after ending the protest at Dharmatala. Banerjee criticised developments related to the Election Commission and, without naming anyone, alleged that a senior official linked to the body had previously been involved in decisions during the Singur land acquisition episode.
Also read: Mamata continues protest for Day 2 over voter roll issue
At the beginning of her address, Mamata said the fight was not merely about electoral issues but about resisting what she described as misrule. She apologised to residents, traders and shopkeepers in the busy Esplanade area for the inconvenience caused by the protest, which included continuous use of loudspeakers during the five-day demonstration.
“I have kept you busy for the past few days and the constant noise has been difficult for everyone, including me,” she said. “But the fight we are engaged in is real.”
Mamata also added a spiritual note to her speech, invoking Kali and saying that the goddess stands with those who believe in humanity and unity. She said living together in harmony was the true essence of religion.
The TMC supremo asserted that just as the Singur and Nandigram movements began their “victory march” from Esplanade, the current protest had given a new direction to the party’s preparations for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Mamata later met former governor Bose. Speaking to media after the meeting, she said she shares a long-standing professional relationship with Bose and is also personally acquainted with his family.
Mamata added that she wished him good health. At the same time, she alleged that injustice had been done to the former governor, stating that although his tenure was fixed for five years, he was removed nearly one-and-a-half years before its completion, just ahead of the elections.
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