TMC to launch street protests on May 21 against hawker evictions, ‘bulldozer policy’

MP, May 20, 2026, 2026, Kolkata: TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday held a meeting with party MLAs and senior leaders at her Kalighat residence over the recent hawker eviction drives and the political situation. Senior leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Madan Mitra and Ashok Deb, were present at the meeting. During the discussion, the Trinamool Congress leadership decided to intensify protests against the alleged “bulldozer policy” and eviction drives targeting hawkers and roadside settlers in different parts of Kolkata.

Mamata Banerjee stated: “Minority communities are targeted..Hawkers’ stalls are bulldozed..This government is tampering with our constitutional ideas and values.”

The ruling party is expected to organise protest programmes on May 21, TMC’s first protest against the ruling party after its electoral defeat, highlighting the rights of hawkers and urban poor while opposing what it termed “bulldozer politics”.

Several local leaders and hawker organisations are likely to participate in the demonstrations in Howrah station, Sealdah station and near Ballygunge.

The internal meeting reportedly turned heated over developments in Falta ahead of the May 21 election. Just 48 hours before polling, candidate Jahangir Khan’s sudden decision to withdraw from the contest sparked sharp reactions within the party. In the presence of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, MLA Ritabrata Banerjee reportedly demanded Jahangir Khan’s expulsion from the party. His demand was supported by Sandipan Saha, who stood up during the meeting in agreement.

Addressing party leaders, Mamata Banerjee also sought to boost the morale of workers ahead of the upcoming political programmes. She asserted that the BJP government at the Centre would not last long and claimed that the party would be removed from power in Delhi in the coming days. Her remarks drew loud cheers from party leaders present at the meeting as the TMC leadership geared up for the May 21 mobilisation.