Mamata Banerjee, chief of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led a street protest in Kolkata on Tuesday against a government hawker eviction drive [1, 2].

The demonstration highlights a deepening conflict between the TMC and the BJP-led government over the livelihoods of urban poor and the legality of public space clearances. By mobilizing hawkers and party supporters, Banerjee is positioning her party as the primary defender of vulnerable citizens against state enforcement.

The protest took place in the Dharmatala and Esplanade areas of Kolkata [3, 4]. The march targeted the BJP-led government's efforts to remove hawkers and other illegal encroachments from footpaths, railway stations, and other public spaces [1, 2].

Banerjee said the eviction drive is "illegal and inhumane" [1]. She said the government is harassing vulnerable citizens and threatening the dignity and livelihoods of poor hawkers [1, 2].

Opposing leaders have dismissed the demonstration. Suvendu Adhikari said, "TMC's condition now pathetic" [5].

While most reports focus on the eviction drive, some accounts suggest the protests were also linked to alleged post-poll violence targeting TMC leaders [5]. The TMC continues to maintain that the primary driver of the unrest is the government's approach to urban encroachments [1, 2].

“"Illegal and inhumane"”

This protest underscores the strategic importance of the urban informal economy in West Bengal's political landscape. By championing the rights of hawkers, the TMC is attempting to consolidate its support among the working class and marginalized urban populations, while framing the BJP-led government as indifferent to the economic survival of the poor.