Trinamool Congress has thrown down the gauntlet in Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s budget session, issuing a digital whip that binds its councillors to speak solely in Bengali. Sent via WhatsApp on Monday, the order seeks to forge a united linguistic front.
Fueling this is TMC’s campaign against supposed mistreatment of West Bengal migrants in BJP territories—a narrative primed to stir emotions pre-elections. Bappaditya Dasgupta, KMC’s TMC chief whip, framed it as an existential call to arms for Bengali identity.
Members were appealed to ‘participate in saving Bengalis’ very being’ by confining budget session addresses to Bengali, Dasgupta announced.
The directive tests many TMC electeds whose native tongues are Hindi or Urdu, frequently used alongside English in past debates. Compliance now becomes a loyalty test.
With budget deliberations peaking soon, the chamber braces for clashes. BJP’s focus remains on corruption barbs at TMC, but the ruling side retorts via cultural assertion, elevating Bengali as a shield.
“The nation witnesses relentless strikes on Bengali heritage,” Dasgupta declared. “No mercy for scholars; BJP states torment Bengali speakers. Remember, this language birthed Tagore’s anthem and Chattopadhyay’s patriotic hymn.”
“Facing such tyranny, Bengali emerges as protest’s voice,” he continued. “I’ve urged our councillors accordingly. The mayor set the example with her all-Bengali budget speech last Friday—expect the trend to cascade.”
This policy not only polices speech but politicizes language, potentially alienating some while rallying the base. As fiscal fights intensify, Kolkata’s council could become a stage for identity politics, where words in Bangla carry the weight of regional resurgence.