As West Bengal heads into a politically charged season, the CPI(M) has launched its Bangla Bachao Yatra, signalling a mass outreach drive that the party insists goes far beyond electoral calculations.

Despite earlier speculation that the campaign was crafted with the upcoming assembly elections in mind, party leaders asserted on the Yatra’s opening day that the initiative seeks to confront and dismantle what they describe as pervasive anarchy under the current dispensation.

The Bangla Bachao Yatra commenced on Saturday, November 29, with a large rally in Tufanganj, Cooch Behar. The opening day saw the march draw strong public response as it concluded its first leg in Falakata in the Alipurduar district.

On Sunday, the second day of the campaign, the Yatra set out from Falakata and is scheduled to reach Dalkhola in North Dinajpur by night, travelling through Mainaguri, Jalpaiguri and Siliguri.

Before the Tufanganj rally began, numerous processions from different regions converged at the venue.

A march led by CPI(M) State Secretary Mohammad Salim was among them. Leaders including CPI(M) Cooch Behar District Secretary Ananta Roy, SFI State President Pranay Kary, Krishak Sabha district secretary Akik Hossain, and Minakshi Mukherjee addressed the gathering at the Dol Mela ground alongside Salim.

Speaking at the inaugural event, Mohammad Salim said, "The Bangla Bachao Yatra is actually a vow to build a new Bengal. The revival of the Left is necessary for the revival of Bengal. During this journey, we will talk to people from different sections. We will know about their problems. We will gather new resources for our fight from this journey."

Addressing the crowd in Falakata the following day, Salim added, "We remembered Manishi Panchanan Varma and legendary Bhavaiya artist Abbasuddin in Cooch Behar yesterday before starting the journey. Because we have to find our roots. When a storm comes, a tree whose roots are deep does not fall. Now in this difficult time, regardless of our caste, religion, or colour, we have to be united. Our predecessors have built this Bengal, bit by bit. They have instilled a sense of entitlement. The Trinamool BJP is taking away that entitlement."

He continued, "No recruitment is being done anywhere in the Centre or the state, a generation has been killed. The Trinamool BJP is trying to survive by playing the politics of division. Because when people are divided, loot is done. We have to be united and united against this."

Salim also criticised the government's administrative priorities. He said the government’s responsibility was “to fix the drainage, run the schools properly, make proper appointments, and run the health system properly. The government's job was to fix the voter list. The government is not doing that. The government is building temples and mosques with its own work. Our Bangla Bachao Yatra is against this anarchy."

At the Falakata rally, Minakshi Mukherjee echoed these concerns, asking, "Who will take responsibility for the poor? Who will take responsibility for the workers, the farmers? Who will take responsibility for the tea garden workers? Why are the youth of our state having to leave the state as migrant workers? Our Bangla Bachao Yatra is against all these. It is in the interest of all the people."

She further added, "Aren't the BJP state leaders, stepping on your heads, making arrangements with Delhi and keeping the government of this state in power and the Delhi government intact? Who will overthrow this gangster's government? This looter government? Only the red flag can do that. That is why we have come to you. Because this red flag is fighting on the streets."