Mamata’s ‘khela hobey’ style of political activism reflects Trinamool MPs protest in Delhi

January 9, 2026

New Delhi: Mamata Banerjee’s political journey is marked by a distinctive style of protest—dramatic, symbolic, and highly personal. Her methods often blur the boundaries between political theater and grassroots activism, creating powerful scenes that impact both supporters and critics. This same style is now being reflected in her allies as well. Around 8:30 a.m. on Friday, in cold and foggy Delhi, eight Trinamool Congress MPs staged an impromptu protest in front of the Union Home Minister’s office. The Delhi Police had to forcibly remove them due to lack of permission and blocking the entrance. This well-planned protest, staged in protest against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid, garnered significant media coverage for the party.

On Thursday, while the raids were underway in Kolkata, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally arrived at the scene and, after about ten minutes, emerged to speak to the media, publicly displaying documents, a laptop, and a mobile phone seized from inside. While the Trinamool Congress alleged that the central government was gathering confidential information related to the upcoming assembly elections through its investigative agencies, the ED clarified that the action had nothing to do with elections or politics.

The legacy of confrontation: From the CBI to a ‘Watergate-like moment’

The discussion of the ‘almost Watergate’ moment in Kolkata brought to mind the 2019 incident when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the home of then-Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar. Mamata Banerjee immediately arrived and described it as an act of political vendetta by the central government. She also staged a sit-in protest in central Kolkata. At the time, rumors of an alleged diary were raised, though no concrete evidence was found. This entire incident exposed her willingness to confront central agencies directly and established her as the ‘protector’ of state officials.

Similarly, Mamata Banerjee had previously staged a sit-in outside the CBI office, accusing the central government of misusing investigative agencies. This protest garnered national attention and underscored her ability to transform bureaucratic conflict into a public political spectacle. Older people also recall the incident when, while in the Congress party, a young Mamata Banerjee climbed on Jayaprakash Narayan’s car during his visit to Kolkata—a visual metaphor of her confrontational politics.

From the Image of a ‘Fighter’ to ‘Khela Hobe’: From the Streets to Power

During Left Front rule, Mamata Banerjee even staged public protests with a bandaged head after allegedly being injured by police batons. This image established her as a ‘fighter’ leader who remains unmoved even in the face of injury. Before the 2021 elections, images emerged of her campaigning in a wheelchair after a leg injury. A party worker created a poster depicting a football and her plastered leg, bearing the famous slogan, “Khela Hobe.” This not only garnered sympathy but also energized supporters.

Today, at the age of 71, despite being the head of the administration, her same “Khela Hobe” philosophy is sometimes reflected in her colleagues. In October 2023, in Delhi, Trinamool leaders, led by her nephew and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, staged a sit-in at the Krishi Bhavan complex, alleging that Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Singh had not met them despite a scheduled meeting. The Delhi police removed them and detained them. Protests by Trinamool MPs in Tripura and Assam, along with allegations of attacks on activists and suppression of democratic rights, have created a sizzling scene for the cameras.