Mamata Banerjee, leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), joined a protest march with hawkers in Kolkata's Dharmatala area on May 4, 2026 [1].
The demonstration highlights a growing conflict between street vendors and the current administration over urban clearance efforts. As a former chief minister of West Bengal, Banerjee's involvement signals a strategic effort by the TMC to align with the working class and small-scale traders against the ruling party.
Banerjee marched alongside vendors to oppose eviction drives that she said were "illegal and inhumane" [2]. She said that these actions threaten the livelihoods and dignity of vendors across Bengal [2]. The protest focused on the removal of street stalls, a move the vendors argue strips them of their only means of survival.
During the event, Banerjee targeted the current administration's approach to urban management. "Common people and small traders are living in fear under the new BJP government," Banerjee said [3].
While most reports place the event at Dharmatala [1], some accounts suggest the protest activity extended to Rani Rashmoni Avenue in Kolkata [4]. Despite the location discrepancy, the core objective remained the condemnation of government-led evictions.
Banerjee said the drives are not merely about city planning but are an attack on the poor. She called for an immediate halt to the removals, and demanded a more sustainable solution for the city's street traders [2].
“"Illegal and inhumane"”
This mobilization reflects a shift in the political landscape of West Bengal, where the Trinamool Congress is positioning itself as the primary defender of the informal economy. By framing urban eviction drives as human rights violations rather than administrative cleanup, Banerjee is attempting to consolidate a coalition of marginalized laborers and small traders to challenge the BJP's governance model.
