Kolkata, Dec 27 (NationPress) The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing one of its most challenging electoral contests since it ascended to power in 2011. A myriad of socio-political issues in 2025 presents significant hurdles as the pivotal Assembly elections approach next year.

Major concerns involve accusations of appeasement politics, rampant corruption, increasing crimes against women, numerous legal challenges, and a fragile fiscal situation in the state.

IANS reviews the critical socio-political events in West Bengal in 2025 that render the 2026 Assembly elections a formidable challenge for the Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, marking a stark contrast to their tenure that began in 2011 after the fall of the 34-year Left Front government.

Communal Riots in Murshidabad

In April, violent communal riots erupted in Murshidabad, a district with a significant minority population, following protests against the new Waqf (Amendment) Act. The Calcutta High Court noted that the state government’s lack of timely action, including the deployment of central armed forces, exacerbated the violence.

On December 23, a district court sentenced 13 individuals, closely associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress, to life imprisonment for their roles in the riots. The BJP capitalized on this verdict, alleging that the state police failed to act against the rioters due to their affiliations, a claim that political analysts believe will be challenging for the TMC to refute.

Waqf Property Registration in Bengal

Initially, in early 2025, Mamata Banerjee asserted that she would not permit the Waqf (Amendment) Act to be implemented in West Bengal. However, a government announcement later urged the registration of Waqf properties on the UMEED Portal within a tight deadline, leading to accusations from opposition parties, particularly the CPI(M)-led Left Front and Congress, of double standards.

Observers suggest that the Murshidabad riots have estranged many Hindu voters, while the government’s reversal on Waqf property registration has alienated a considerable number of Muslim voters.

Supreme Court Order Canceling School Jobs

In April, a division bench of the Supreme Court upheld a Calcutta High Court ruling that annulled 25,753 teaching and non-teaching positions in state-run schools due to significant irregularities in the hiring process. The court noted that the government failed to provide separate lists distinguishing between 'tainted' and 'untainted' candidates.

Though the West Bengal government initiated a fresh recruitment drive to fill these roles, the process remains mired in legal complications, casting uncertainty over its execution.

Opposition parties have already begun to claim that any equitable recruitment under the TMC would be a far-fetched idea, adding to the challenges the ruling party faces ahead of the 2026 elections.

Lingering Shadow of R.G. Kar Rape and Murder Case

The August 2024 rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College has continued to haunt the TMC throughout 2025. While the Supreme Court has since withdrawn from the case, proceedings are still ongoing in the Calcutta High Court and lower courts.

Public perception remains negative for the ruling party, with claims that powerful elements within the state administration attempted to protect the key conspirators. The TMC is also criticized for allegedly punitive measures against junior doctors who participated in protests following the incident.

Kasba Law College Gang-Rape Case

Another significant challenge arose in 2025 with the gang-rape of a law student within the premises of her college in Kasba, Kolkata, where all three accused were affiliated with the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the student wing of the TMC. Opposition parties have leveraged this incident to argue that educational institutions in the state have become sanctuaries for politically connected criminals, further tarnishing the ruling party’s reputation.

DA Arrears and Contempt Threat

A new legal challenge looms over the state government following a Supreme Court order mandating that 25% of dearness allowance arrears owed to state employees be cleared by June 30. The government's failure to comply raises the possibility of contempt of court.

Although the West Bengal government has filed a review petition concerning this matter, legal experts believe the petition offers no assurance against contempt for non-compliance with the court's directive.