A 21-year-old graduate, who spent almost £100,000 (about Rs 1 crore) on his UK education, says the job market is “broken” after applying for 500 jobs without securing a single offer.Khalid Sharif, who graduated top in his class in digital media technology from Kingston University near London in 2025, has received less than 20 interview calls so far and remains unemployed despite his academic performance. New York Post Informed.Sharif described the experience as “really stressful”, saying, “I graduated top of my class, but I didn’t get anything.”Sharif, who was born in Egypt and grew up in Qatar before moving to Britain at the age of 18, hoped studying in Britain would open up global career opportunities.Instead, he says he has been forced to expand his search beyond his field into sales and other roles that don’t interest him.

‘Flooded’ job market, less openness

He believes that the graduate job market is overly saturated. “The system is flooded with applicants,” he said, adding that companies are also hiring less due to cost pressures, post-pandemic uncertainty and increased use of AI tools.According to him, though he can easily get a job in a supermarket, he wants to work in the field for which he has studied.Despite securing interviews, Sharif says the results were disappointing. “They say I passed the first round, but I got rejected after the second round,” he said.In one instance, he passed several rounds at a multinational tech firm, only to be told that the graduate program had been scrapped.Visa confusion escalates conflictsSharif also believes that his international background may work against him. Although he lives in the UK through his mother and does not need work sponsorship, he says recruiters may think otherwise because of his education history in Qatar.“They probably think I need sponsorship and don’t read the entire application,” he said.

Freelancing, the startup route after struggling to find a job

Not finding full-time opportunities, Sharif has continued to work as a freelance videographer and photographer – skills he developed during college.Reflecting on his education, he admitted that most of his practical knowledge came from real-world experience rather than classroom learning. “To be honest, I didn’t learn much at university. Most of it was YouTube and volunteering,” he said.He now regrets not choosing filmmaking earlier, but says he put it off due to fear of limited job prospects.He said, “I wish I had done filmmaking, but I thought the opportunities would be limited.”

Launched a clothing brand

Sharif has now started her own clothing label, Zoque, which means “my style” in Arabic, combining her interests in fashion and photography.He says the experience has been discouraging but not so discouraging as to give up completely. “More opportunities have to be created,” he said, adding that many other graduates were facing similar struggles in the UK job market.

Here are the top 5 news of the day

ATF prices: ‘Indian airline industry on verge of shutting down operations,’ says FIA; Demand for government intervention

“The airline industry in India is under extreme stress and is on the verge of closure or closure of operations.” This serious warning has been issued by the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet, in an “urgent” SOS sent to the government, seeking the latter’s “immediate intervention” in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) pricing. Read the full story

‘If he is Singham, I am Pushpa’: TMC protests over UP-cadre IPS Ajay Pal Sharma’s warning against voter intimidation

A political controversy erupted in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas following protests by TMC supporters over alleged threat by election observer Ajay Pal Sharma ahead of the second phase of voting. TMC candidate Jahangir Khan said, “This is Bengal; if he is ‘Singham’, I am ‘Pushpa’. No intimidation or coercion of any kind by BJP-appointed police officers will be allowed here.” Read the full story

Gujarat civic polls: BJP wins all 15 corporations, crosses 50% vote share across the board

BJP won a landslide victory in all 15 municipal corporations. In the home turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the saffron party crossed the 50% mark in every corporation. Voting took place on Sunday for civic elections, which include 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats. Read the full story

Greece: Gunman opens fire at Social Security office and court; Police are searching for 89-year-old suspect

An 89-year-old man reportedly armed with a shotgun wounded a worker at a Social Security office in Athens before he opened fire in a court, wounding several more people. Police are actively searching for the suspect, the motive behind the attacks is unknown at this time. Read the full story

IS inspired attack in Maharashtra: CM Fadnavis said, ‘The suspect had a desire to attack Hindus.’

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Thane stabbing incident was being investigated as a possible “lone wolf” case of self-radicalisation, with agencies probing any wider conspiracy. Police said the accused, Jaber Zubair Ansari, allegedly asked the guards about their religion and forced one of them to recite an Islamic kalma before attacking him. Read the full story

श्री वैश्य कुटुम्ब सेवा समिति द्वारा मुजफ्फरनगर शिक्षा के क्षेत्र में एक प्रेरक कदम उठाते हुए तीन जरूरतमंद बच्चों को गोद लिया गया है और उनकी पूरी शैक्षणिक जिम्मेदारी ली गई है। इस पहल के तहत बच्चों की पूरे साल की फीस स्कूल प्रबंधन को सौंपी गई, जबकि उनकी माताओं को स्कूल परिसर में ही यूनिफॉर्म और स्टेशनरी की व्यवस्था की गई. यह सहयोग न सिर्फ आर्थिक मदद है, बल्कि सामाजिक जिम्मेदारी और मानवीय संवेदना की मिसाल भी बनकर उभरा है। 🌹

सत्र 2026-27 के लिए पूरे वर्ष की फीस स्कूल को सौंप दी गई

समिति द्वारा प्रदेश संयोजक पवन सिंघल के मार्गदर्शन में अंतिम दिन हुआ कुँवर जगदीश प्रसाद सनातन धर्म जूनियर हाई स्कूल में अध्ययनरत तीन बच्चों को शिक्षा सहयोग योजना के तहत गोद लिया गया। इससे पहले भी पिछले सत्र की छह माह की फीस समिति द्वारा वहन की जा चुकी है.

वर्तमान शैक्षणिक सत्र 2026-27 के लिए बच्चों की पूरे वर्ष की फीस, विद्यालय प्रबंधन समिति के सदस्य साधुराम गर्ग विद्यालय परिसर में ही औपचारिक रूप से सौंपा गया। इस मौके पर मौजूद लोगों ने इसे समाज के लिए अनुकरणीय पहल बताया.

स्टेशनरी और वर्दी का खर्च भी परिवार को सौंप दिया गया।

कार्यक्रम के दौरान बच्चों की आवश्यक स्टेशनरी एवं यूनिफार्म के लिए निर्धारित राशि सीधे उनकी माताओं को प्रदान की गई। इससे यह सुनिश्चित हुआ कि किसी भी वित्तीय बाधा के कारण बच्चों की शिक्षा प्रभावित न हो।

समिति के पदाधिकारियों ने स्पष्ट किया कि शिक्षा केवल फीस भरने तक ही सीमित नहीं है, बल्कि इससे संबंधित सभी आवश्यक संसाधनों की उपलब्धता भी उतनी ही महत्वपूर्ण है।

पिता की मृत्यु के बाद परिवार कठिन परिस्थितियों से गुजर रहा था।

समिति द्वारा गोद लिए गए तीन बच्चे कक्षा 4, 6 और 8 में पढ़ते हैं और मित्तल परिवार से हैं। पिछले साल पिता की मौत के बाद परिवार आर्थिक संकट से गुजर रहा था और बच्चों की पढ़ाई प्रभावित होने का डर बढ़ गया था.

ऐसे समय में समिति का सहयोग परिवार के लिए बड़ी राहत बनकर आया। स्थानीय लोगों ने भी इस पहल की सराहना की और इसे सामाजिक संवेदनशीलता का उदाहरण बताया.

समिति पदाधिकारियों ने स्वयं आर्थिक सहयोग कर अपनी जिम्मेदारी निभाई।

कार्यक्रम में मौजूद संस्था के पदाधिकारियों ने व्यक्तिगत रूप से आर्थिक सहयोग किया और रसीदें बच्चों की माताओं को सौंपी गईं। यह सहयोग न केवल औपचारिक था बल्कि व्यक्तिगत भागीदारी का भी प्रतीक था।

यह पहल मुख्य रूप से प्रवीण गुप्ता, रोहिताश कर्णवाल, विनीत गर्ग, पवन सिंघल, शैलेन्द्र कर्णवाल, पीयूष गोयल, इंदु अग्रवाल, निधि अग्रवाल, -विपिन गुप्ता और श्रेय मित्तल सहित अन्य साथियों ने योगदान दिया।

इस अवसर पर सभी सहयोगी उपस्थित रहे और इस सामाजिक पहल के प्रत्यक्ष साक्षी बने।

कार्यक्रम जिले के पदाधिकारियों के नेतृत्व में संपन्न हुआ

कार्यक्रम का नेतृत्व जिला कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष ने किया अजय गर्ग वहीं कार्यक्रम के समापन समारोह में जिला महासचिव मो शैलेन्द्र कर्णवाल उपस्थित सभी सहयोगियों एवं सदस्यों का आभार व्यक्त किया।

कार्यक्रम में विद्यालय प्रभारी सहित वरिष्ठ पत्रकारों ने भाग लिया। संजय अग्रवाल की गरिमामयी उपस्थिति भी रही, जिससे आयोजन को विशेष महत्व मिला।

शिक्षा सहयोग की यह पहल समाज के लिए प्रेरणा बनी।

समिति की इस पहल ने यह संदेश दिया कि सामूहिक प्रयासों से जरूरतमंद परिवारों के बच्चों की शिक्षा सुनिश्चित की जा सकती है। सामाजिक संगठनों की ऐसी सक्रिय भागीदारी शिक्षा के क्षेत्र में सकारात्मक बदलाव लाने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाती है।

स्थानीय नागरिकों और समाज के विभिन्न वर्गों ने इस कदम की सराहना की और आशा व्यक्त की कि भविष्य में भी इसी तरह के सहयोगात्मक कार्यक्रम जारी रहेंगे।

जरूरतमंद बच्चों की शिक्षा की जिम्मेदारी लेने की श्री वैश्य कुटुंब सेवा समिति की यह पहल सामाजिक एकता, संवेदनशीलता और सहयोग की भावना को मजबूत करने के लिए एक मिसाल बनकर उभरी है। ऐसे प्रयास न केवल बच्चों का भविष्य सुरक्षित करते हैं, बल्कि समाज में शिक्षा के महत्व को एक नई दिशा भी प्रदान करते हैं। 🌹

Times Business Awards Odisha 2026, an initiative of Optimal Media Solutions, a division of The Times of India, brought together an impressive mix of business leaders, entrepreneurs and policy makers. The evening reflected the momentum of a state steadily emerging as a hub of enterprise, innovation and industrial progress.Chief guest Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in his keynote address, highlighted Odisha’s transformation from a resource-driven economy to a knowledge-driven and manufacturing-based growth engine. He emphasized that entrepreneurs and wealth creators are at the center of building a self-reliant India. Referring to India’s growing economy, he underlined the role of digital infrastructure, innovation and young workforce in driving growth. Describing Odisha as a land of ‘possibilities and positivity’, he pointed to its mineral power, connectivity and talent pool and positioned it as a key pillar in the Purvodaya vision.

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The evening also saw strong participation from industry voices highlighting collaboration, MSME growth and sustainability while recognizing the individuals and organizations shaping Odisha’s growing business ecosystem.This spirit of cooperation and leadership extends to all sectors, with each sector making a unique contribution to the development of the state.

Entrepreneur, Professional and Leadership

At the heart of Odisha’s growth story are individuals whose leadership continues to inspire enterprise and innovation.

food and agriculture sector

Manufacturing, Industrial and Core Sectors

The industrial backbone of Odisha is growing with organizations enhancing scale, efficiency and global competitiveness.

Education and Institutional Excellence

Education remains the cornerstone of Odisha’s development, with institutions focusing on holistic and future-ready education.

Real estate and infrastructure

Odisha’s urban transformation is being shaped by developers and infrastructure leaders focused on quality, sustainability and long-term value creation.

Logistics, Technology and Emerging Innovations

Innovation based enterprises are playing a vital role in building the future ready economy of Odisha.

Retail, lifestyle and consumer brands

Odisha’s consumer landscape is evolving with brands that combine heritage, design and modern retail experiences.

Hospitality, Media and Services

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The services sector reflects Odisha’s growing aspirations in lifestyle, tourism and cultural identity.

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The awards are based on a structured, objective research process where participants submit factual data on performance and achievements, which is evaluated through a merit-based framework.Comment:The survey was conducted by an independent agency, and the publication takes no responsibility for the results. Readers are advised to exercise discretion.Disclaimer: The above content is non-editorial, and TIL disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, related to it, and does not guarantee, endorse, or necessarily endorse any content.

Details of every scenario that could ultimately bring Messi and Ronaldo together for one last meeting at the 2026 World Cup

For almost two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have defined an era of football that spans leagues, continents and competitions, yet the one stage that has never brought them together in a competitive match is the FIFA World Cup. They have played each other only twice at international level, both in friendly matches in 2011 and 2014, and despite participating in every World Cup since 2006, Portugal and Argentina have never met each other in the tournament. This absence remains quietly in the background of their rivalry, and with 2026 expected to be the last World Cup for both, Ronaldo is 41 and Messi is close to 39, the prospect of one last meeting now depends on a very specific series of results, formats and routes aligning in a newly expanded tournament. Before getting into those scenarios, it helps to understand how this World Cup is actually structured, as the format itself makes these possibilities both more open and more complex.

How the 48-team World Cup actually works

The 2026 tournament, held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expanded from 32 to 48 teams, changing the entire tone of the competition. Instead of eight groups, there are now twelve groups, labeled Group A to Group L, and each group has four teams. Argentina have been drawn in Group J with Algeria, Austria and Jordan, while Portugal have been drawn in Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan and DR Congo.

FIFA World Cup 2026 (via Getty Images)

The way forward from these twelve groups works in two layers. First, the direct part: the first and second placed teams in each group automatically qualify for the knockout stage. It includes 24 teams. After this comes the part which was not present in the last World Cup. All twelve third-placed teams throughout the tournament are compared on points, goal difference and goals scored, and the best eight of them also qualify. With this, the total number of teams reaching the knockout has become 32.

fifa world cup 2026 groups/fifa

From there, the tournament moves straight into an elimination bracket, starting with the Round of 32, then moving on to the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semi-finals, and finally the final. A team that advances all the way will now play eight matches instead of seven, reflecting the expanded structure, and the tournament will expand to 104 matches in total. This format makes sense because it creates multiple entry points into the knockout bracket, where a Ronaldo-Messi meeting becomes possible.

The weight of both the teams will remain till 2026

Argentina arrived as defending world champions after lifting the trophy at Qatar 2022, a moment that reshaped Messi’s international legacy after years of near-misses, including a World Cup final defeat and three Copa America final defeats before 2021 success. Since then, Argentina have captured another Copa America title and head into 2026 with continuity, depth and a team built around their captain. The story of Portugal has been different. Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 143 goals, has won the European Championship and two UEFA Nations League titles, but the World Cup has remained out of his reach. Portugal’s best performance in the Ronaldo era came in 2006, when they reached the semi-finals, and since then they have twice been eliminated in the round of 16 in 2010 and 2018, exited the group stage in 2014, and reached the quarter-finals in 2022, where they were eliminated by Morocco, while Ronaldo was largely used as a substitute in the knockouts.

Messi and Ronaldo are set for a possible final World Cup in 2026, marking a potentially final chapter in football’s greatest-ever rivalry/ (Image via Getty)

Individually, Messi has played 26 World Cup matches and scored 13 goals, while Ronaldo has played 22 matches with eight goals, and both are expected to attend their sixth World Cup, with Messi yet to officially confirm his participation. All this context boils down to the simple fact that they are now in different groups, Argentina in Group J and Portugal in Group K, meaning any meeting can only take place after the knockout rounds begin.

Group stage expectations and prospects

Argentina are widely seen as strong favorites to top Group J, with projections placing their chances of finishing first at around 75% to 77%, reflecting both their status as defending champions and the relative balance of the group which also includes Austria, Algeria and Jordan. Austria is considered the primary challenger, with an estimated 20% to 22% chance of winning the group.

FILE – Argentina’s Lionel Messi lifts the trophy after winning the World Cup final football match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar on December 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Portugal, drawn in Group K, are also expected to lead their group, featuring players like Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix along with Ronaldo. According to leading betting sites, Portugal are strong favorites to top the group at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with an implied probability of around 65% to 71%, although Colombia are seen as a real threat after a strong qualifying campaign in South America, led by Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez and Davinson Sanchez along with other key forwards such as John Córdoba, Jefferson Lerma and Richard Ríos. People have done it.

Portugal team pose starting eleven squad FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers Zona Européen / Image: X

Bracket Reality: Why They Can’t Meet Early

Because Argentina and Portugal were both top seeds in Pot 1 during the draw, FIFA structured the bracket so that teams from the same seeding pot were separated into different routes. In simple terms, this means they cannot meet in the group stage and are set aside up to a certain number of points in the knockout round, depending on how they finish. Their placement in Groups J and K also places them on intersecting sides of the bracket, which is why their meeting depends heavily on specific finishing conditions.

Scenario one: Both win their groups, quarter-final clash

If Argentina finishes first in Group J and Portugal finishes first in Group K, both teams will enter the knockout rounds on a route that brings them together in the quarterfinals in Kansas City on July 11, provided they win their Round of 32 and Round of 16 matches. In that scenario, Argentina’s journey would begin in the round of 32 against the runners-up of Group H, followed by a round of 16 tie against the winners emerging from the clash between the second-placed teams in Groups D and G. Conversely, Portugal will face one of the third-placed qualifying teams in their round of 32 match, before moving on to a round of 16 tie against the winner of the match involving the winner of Group B. Only if both successfully clear those two knockout rounds, the bracket aligns for a Ronaldo vs Messi clash in the quarterfinals.

Scenario two: Both finish in second place, preliminary round of 16 meeting

If both teams finish as runners-up in their respective groups, the structure brings them together much earlier, with a possible round of 16 clash at Arlington on 6 July, again assuming both win their opening knockout matches. In this situation, Argentina will face the winner of Group H in the Round of 32, while Portugal will face the runner-up of Group L, which includes teams like England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama. The main difference here is that finishing second compresses the timeline, creating a path where the meeting takes place exactly one round after the initial knockout stage.

Scenario Three: Split Position, Only the Last Remains

If one of the two teams wins its group while the other finishes second, the bracket separates them completely until the finals on July 19 in New Jersey. In that configuration, they are placed on opposite sides of the knockout draw, meaning they must advance through every round, round of 32, round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, without slipping for a meeting to occur. It is the longest and most demanding route, but also the one offering the most symbolic ending: a World Cup final between two players whose rivalry has defined an era.

Wildcard variable: third-place qualification

The expanded format introduces another layer of uncertainty through the best third-place teams. If Argentina or Portugal finish third, but still qualify among the top eight third-place teams, their exact position in the knockout bracket cannot be determined until all group matches are completed, as those rankings depend on points, goal difference and goals scored across all groups. This makes any Ronaldo-Messi meeting in that scenario unpredictable, as their paths will only become clear once the group stage is over.

Why does this World Cup feel different?

For all the permutations and routes, the underlying reality is simple. This is likely the last time the two players will share the World Cup stage, and the structure of the 48-team tournament makes it possible, but does not guarantee they will eventually meet. For this, Argentina will have to perform as expected, Portugal will have to advance in the competitive group and both teams will have to make it through at least one or two knockout rounds without making any mistakes depending on the route. Only then does the bracket open up in a way that allows the rivalry to reach the stage it has always missed.

बागेश्वर जिले में मंगलवार को महज 10 मिनट तक चले भीषण तूफान से जनजीवन पूरी तरह अस्त-व्यस्त हो गया। तूफान से शहर समेत ग्रामीण इलाकों में भारी नुकसान की खबर है. इस प्राकृतिक आपदा में एक खाद्य व्यवसायी और एक लड़की घायल हो गए हैं जबकि कई घरों की छतें उड़ गईं. कई जगहों पर बड़े-बड़े पेड़ गिरने से मुख्य सड़कों पर यातायात ठप हो गया है.

शहर में बैनर लगाकर जीविकोपार्जन करने वाले शिव सिंह नेगी तूफान में उड़ गए और उसकी चपेट में आने से उनका कान कट गया। वहीं भटौरा क्षेत्र में नवीन उपाध्याय और भुवन चंद्र उपाध्याय के मकान की छतें हवा के तेज झोंकों से उड़ गईं। शहर के पिंडारी रोड पर अस्पताल पुल के पास एक मकान के ऊपर लगा टीन शेड उखड़कर सीधे सड़क पर जा गिरा। इससे एक लड़की घायल हो गई और सड़क पर खड़ी गाड़ियों को भी काफी नुकसान हुआ. पेड़ गिरने से यातायात पूरी तरह बाधित हो गया है. कई स्थानों पर बड़े-बड़े पेड़ गिरने से कांडा मार्ग अवरुद्ध हो गया है। पिंडारी रोड पर इनडोर स्टेडियम के पास सड़क पर भारी पेड़ गिरने से लंबा जाम लग गया है. आपदा की सूचना मिलते ही फायर ब्रिगेड और राजस्व विभाग की टीमें राहत और बचाव कार्य में जुट गईं। पेड़ों को काटकर सड़कें साफ करने का काम युद्ध स्तर पर किया जा रहा है ताकि यातायात को फिर से सुचारू किया जा सके.

New Delhi: At a time when centralized leadership and national narratives play a major role in politics, Mamata Banerjee Has stood as one of the strongest regional satraps opposing the national trend. He has ruled West Bengal for the last 15 years, defeating his rivals time and again. But the big question is whether the Trinamool chief will be successful in doing this once again? BJPHer chief rival in West Bengal, this time, is trying everything possible to remove her from the post – putting the brand ‘Mamata’ to perhaps one of the toughest political tests.Little wonder, the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 have literally become a referendum on brand ‘Didi’ – that carefully constructed public identity. TMC Supremo, who has combined grassroots populism, Bengali sub-nationalism and an expansive welfare state based on direct benefit transfers.The question now is whether this brand, once seen as electorally Teflon, can still withstand voter fatigue, allegations of corruption and a much stronger opposition this time from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

its own brand

The brand ‘Didi’ that Mamata Banerjee created was never just about governance; It was about this that he reduced the distance between state power and the individual citizen, turning policy into personal reach.From the anti-Left rebel who came to power in 2011 to the welfare architect of the last decade, Banerjee’s politics have evolved, but its core has remained intact: a direct emotional and physical connection with the voter.

By 2021, this model had reached its peak. Despite a strong campaign by BJP, TMC won 215 seats with 48.5% vote share. However, BJP managed to secure a major share of 77 seats with 38.4% vote share.Five years later, this election will once again test whether the brand holds up.

The Maternal State: Welfare as Political Glue

At the core of brand ‘Didi’ lies what can best be described as a maternalist welfare state, a governance model that prioritizes domestic liquidity over macro-economic signals. Rather than promising long-term infrastructure benefits, it offers immediate, concrete benefits that matter to voters in their daily lives.Schemes like ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ have become the cornerstone of this model. With the enrollment of about 2.21 crore women, and the monthly stipend increased to Rs 1,500 for general categories and Rs 1,700 for SC/ST beneficiaries, the scheme has effectively created a huge, cross-cutting support base among women voters that transcends caste and religious divides.

The scale of the state’s food security network strengthens this bond. Under ‘Khadya Sathi’ and ‘Duare Ration’, around 9 crore people receive subsidized food grains, with 7.5 crore beneficiaries accessing doorstep delivery. In large parts of rural Bengal, these schemes make the Mamata government a strong monthly presence in many households.This is similar to what J Jayalalitha did Tamil Nadu With its ‘Amma’ initiative, which provided affordable, nutritious food to low-income groups. The flagship programme, Amma Canteen, revolutionized food security, selling idli for Rs 1, sambar rice for Rs 5 and curd rice for Rs 3.

Street Fighter 2.0

Days before the election dates were announced, Mamata Banerjee adopted a sharp strategy to recast her street fighter image. Facing anti-incumbency and growing institutional pressure, he shifted the arena of confrontation from street protests to the courtroom. On February 4, she became a rare sitting chief minister to personally address the Supreme Court, turning the legal hearing into a political moment.

At the center of the move was the SIR of the voter list, in which more than 90 lakh names were removed. While the BJP presented it as a cleanliness drive, Banerjee presented it as a question of disenfranchisement. Appearing in person wearing her trademark cotton saree and slippers, she reinforced her image as a grassroots leader taking on the powerful institutions that had helped her in her early days in politics.The move also marked a subtle restructuring. From being introduced as a combative street politician, he established himself as a “constitutional fighter”, arguing that it is necessary to confront the system from within to protect voters’ rights.

Stress Factors: Corruption and Credibility

Yet, at this time in more than a decade, the brand is clearly under pressure. The 2026 election cycle has exposed fault lines that go beyond routine anti-incumbency.The most damaging challenge is what can be described as an ethics crisis. Incidents like the RG Kar Medical College tragedy and the allegations emerging from Sandeshkhali have struck at the emotional core of Banerjee’s political identity – ‘Maa, Mati, Manush’. The ‘mother’ component, which established him as a protective figure, especially with regard to women’s safety, has come under scrutiny.

During the second phase of the election campaign in Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used it to drive a rift in his party, saying: “15 years ago, TMC came to power by talking about ‘Maa, Mati, Manush’. Now they can’t even speak those words. I will tell you the reason behind it. If these people speak those words, their sins will be exposed.” The cruelty of TMC made the ‘Mother’ cry, handed over the ‘Soil’ to the syndicates and infiltrators and forced the ‘Manush’ of Bengal to flee.“In fact, BJP has also given election ticket to the mother of the RG tax case victim, for whom PM Modi had campaigned in Dum Dum on Saturday. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP had also given ticket to Rekha Patra, one of the Sandeshkhali victims, from Basirhat, West Bengal. However, Patra lost the election.The growing corruption saga, fueled by investigations by central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and CBI, complicates the issue of women’s safety. Although TMC has questioned these investigations and Mamata herself has openly fought the institution, they may contribute to a broader credibility challenge.

identity politics

The 2026 election has also been shaped by the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, in which around 91 lakh names were reportedly removed. Voting in the first phase was 92.59%, the highest since independence.Mamata Banerjee made sure to make this exercise by the Election Commission a political issue – to deny identity and vote. By portraying this as an effort to exclude vulnerable populations (read Muslims), they have mobilized their base around a defensive narrative: not just voting for a party, but protecting one’s political survival.On Phase 1 voting, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the increase in voting percentage “has gone decisively in favor of the ruling party” and signals a clear rejection of the BJP.Echoing the same sentiment, TMC minister Bratya Basu said, “In Bihar, we saw a similar pattern where voting increased significantly, but the government remained unchanged. Bengal is also reflecting the same trend.”In contrast, the BJP has framed the SIR exercise as a corrective measure targeting illegal migration. The result is an intensely polarized discourse, where the electoral contest doubles as a battle of belonging.In such a scenario, ‘Brand Didi’ may gain renewed relevance among sections of the electorate – not as a vehicle of aspiration, but as a shield against perceived exclusion.

permanent edge

Despite the adverse circumstances, Mamata Banerjee has retained three important advantages which may work in electoral favor for TMC again this time.First, the lack of a reliable local model. The BJP’s campaign, despite being organizationally strong, still hinges heavily on the promise of national leadership and its ‘double-engine’ governance. This allows TMC to present the election as a contest between the ‘daughter of Bengal’ and outside forces, while strengthening regional identity.TMC has raised the slogan of “Bangla Nijer Meyekei Chai” (Bengal wants its own daughter) this election season, while terming BJP as an outsider who wants to destroy Bengali culture.The second is the depth of the grassroots network. Through self-help groups like Anandadhara, which includes more than 12 lakh groups and more than 1 crore women, TMC has built a decentralized mobility structure.The third is Banerjee’s adaptive populism. Faced with crises, they have continuously recalibrated – launching schemes like Shramshree and expanding the social safety net to regain lost ground. Shramshree Scheme supports the return of Bengali speaking migrant workers who faced harassment or hardship in other states. It provides a one-time travel grant of Rs 5,000, monthly financial assistance up to Rs 5,000 for a year and relocation assistance, which benefits registered workers.This ability to respond quickly has prevented discontent from turning into a unified anti-establishment wave.

brand development

Perhaps the most important change is ideological. The brand ‘Didi’ of 2026 is no longer the aspirational force of 2011, when it promised ‘poriborton’ (change), nor the rebellious force of 2021, captured in the slogan ‘Khela Hobe’.It has now rebranded itself as a utility with welfare schemes. This time, it is also a crusader against the BJP, which is currently the dominant national party.Banerjee has already said that after winning the assembly elections, she will focus her attention on Delhi.“Remember this, you cannot defeat us. We fight against injustice; we fight for our rights. I was born in Bengal, and I will take my last breath in this very Bengal. After winning in Bengal, I will capture Delhi. I will do this by bringing all the political parties together. I don’t want a seat (of power); I want complete eradication of BJP in Delhi. While their destruction in Bengal is inevitable, the BJP must be ousted from Delhi too,” he said at a rally in Kolkata.

So will the ‘Didi’ brand work this time?

Voting has been held for 152 constituencies in the first phase on April 23 in the state and voting for the second phase will be held on Wednesday.Whether she will win power for the fourth time or not will be known when the results are declared on May 4. But at present the last woman is still in power.