Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that she has no intention of stepping away from politics despite suffering one of the biggest defeats of her political career in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. In her first strong public response after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed to a historic victory, the former Chief Minister struck a combative tone, declaring that she would rebuild her party once again and return stronger.
Emerging from the Sakhawat Memorial counting centre after the election results, Banerjee rejected suggestions that the loss marked the end of her political journey. Instead, she revived the spirit of the Trinamool Congress with a new slogan “Korbo, Lorbo, Bachbo” (We will do, we will fight, we will survive)—while delivering a direct warning to the BJP that her fight was far from over.
Calling the BJP’s victory “unethical,” Banerjee alleged that the defeat had been forced upon her party. However, she insisted that setbacks have never defined her political career and that she has overcome difficult situations before.
“It is an unethical win for the BJP. They have forced this defeat on us, but I will be back. I have built this party from scratch twice before, and I will do it again,” she said.
Banerjee also dismissed criticism surrounding her age, making it clear that she remains determined to continue leading the party. She said she was prepared to return to the grassroots, reconnect with party workers, and reorganize the Trinamool Congress from the ground up. Her remarks reflected a leader unwilling to accept defeat quietly, even as the BJP celebrated its biggest-ever victory in West Bengal.
The BJP secured a massive mandate by winning 207 of the 294 Assembly seats, ending the TMC’s long hold over the state and dramatically altering Bengal’s political landscape. While the victory marked a watershed moment for the BJP, it also triggered an unprecedented crisis within the Trinamool Congress.
In the days following the election results, the party has reportedly been engulfed in internal turmoil. A rebel faction within the TMC allegedly attempted to take control of the party headquarters in Kolkata, even declaring veteran MLA Arup Roy as the chairman of the All India Trinamool Congress. The move exposed deep divisions within the organisation at a time when unity was needed most.
The political setbacks have been accompanied by a string of high-profile resignations. Newly appointed state president Chandrima Bhattacharya reportedly stepped down after Banerjee accused her of allowing rebels to gain control of the party headquarters. Senior leader Madan Mitra also resigned only weeks after taking charge as the party’s general secretary, adding to the growing uncertainty surrounding the TMC’s future.
The party has also faced public anger in the aftermath of the election. Several defeated TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, have reportedly been targeted in egg-throwing incidents by angry citizens, reflecting the frustration of a section of the electorate following the party’s electoral collapse.
Despite the political rebellion, leadership crisis, and overwhelming defeat, Mamata Banerjee’s latest statement signals that she is not prepared to surrender her influence in Bengal. Instead, she appears determined to regroup, rebuild, and launch a fresh political battle against the BJP.
Whether her promise of “Korbo, Lorbo, Bachbo” becomes the rallying cry for a remarkable comeback or simply marks the beginning of a new chapter in Bengal politics remains to be seen. One thing, however, is clear—Mamata Banerjee believes her political story is far from over.
