About the Party

The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) was born from a mass movement led by Mamata Banerjee, a leader who has consistently championed the cause of ordinary citizens. Years of relentless struggle against injustice convinced her that Bengal needed an independent platform, one free from the limitations of the Congress and strong enough to challenge the CPI(M)’s long-standing rule.

On January 1, 1998, that vision took shape with the founding of the Trinamool Congress. As India moved from the 11th to the 12th Lok Sabha, Mamata Banerjee, already a seasoned parliamentarian, read the people’s pulse. With courage and a strong grassroots connection, she turned that sentiment into new hope for Bengal.

Symbolism played a central role from the very beginning. On the party’s inception day, Mamata Banerjee personally sketched its emblem – two green shoots emerging from the grass. It was not just a symbol but a statement of harmony, unity, and secularism:

“মোরা এক বৃন্তে দু’টি কুসুম হিন্দু-মুসলমান।
একজোন টার নয়োনমনি, ওনো তি টার প্রান।।”

(Two buds on the same stem – Hindu and Muslim; one is the eye, the other is life.)

The Election Commission approved the symbol with a challenge: if the party failed to secure 6% of the votes in the 12th Lok Sabha elections, its recognition would be revoked. The people responded decisively. Their overwhelming support ensured not only the party’s recognition but also the beginning of its historic journey that redefined Bengal’s political landscape.

Struggles and Movements

Since its inception, the Trinamool Congress has stood firmly beside the people of Bengal, especially during their most challenging battles for justice and dignity.

● 2001: Voice of the People – Trinamool Congress emerged as the principal opposition party in West Bengal, securing 60 seats in the Vidhan Sabha.

● 2006–07: The Nandigram Movement – When over 70,000 villagers faced displacement due to forced land acquisition, Trinamool led the resistance. The tragic police firing on March 14, 2007, killing 14 villagers, exposed the cruelty of the CPI(M) regime.

● 2006–08: The Singur Movement – Trinamool spearheaded the struggle against forcible land acquisition for the Tata Motors project. Mamata Banerjee undertook a 26-day hunger strike, symbolising Bengal’s unyielding spirit. The movement culminated in Tata Motors’ exit and, in 2011, the Trinamool government returned 400 acres of land to the farmers.

Rise to Power

The rise of Trinamool Congress is the story of Bengal’s changing political heartbeat:

● 2009 Lok Sabha – Won 19 seats in Bengal.
● 2010 Kolkata Municipal Elections – Victory in 97 of 141 seats.
● 2011 Vidhan Sabha – Ended 34 years of Left rule with 184 seats. Mamata Banerjee became Bengal’s first woman CM.
● 2014 Lok Sabha – Won 34 of 42 seats; recognised as a national party.
● 2016 Vidhan Sabha – Secured 211 seats.
● 2019 Lok Sabha – Won 22 seats.
● 2021 Vidhan Sabha – Historic landslide with 215 seats; Mamata sworn in for third consecutive term.
● 2024 Lok Sabha – Won 29 seats, consolidating its position as Bengal’s strongest force.