‘Khela Hobe’ is the election warcry used by the ruling-Trinamool Congress to assert that the ‘game is on’ in the upcoming Assembly polls. Not only is the slogan raised during addresses at election rallies, but several Trinamool Congress leaders were also seen dancing to its tunes.

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Although the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come up with their own slogan — ‘khela sesh’ (‘the game is over’), it is ‘khela hobe’ that has become widely popular, capturing the close contest, which is expected in the West Bengal Assembly polls.

According to the Indian Express, the slogan was first raised a few years ago by Bangladesh’s Awami League MP Shamim Osman. However, in West Bengal, it was popularised by the Trinamool Congress president of Birbhum district, Anubrata Mondal. It, however, isn’t known if Mondal knew about the first use of the slogan by Osman.

It is being used by several Trinamool Congress leaders at election rallies and political meetings, to challenge the BJP, its nearest rival. It has also featured in the form of a song and wall graffiti.

Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has also used the slogan. Interestingly, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh too used the slogan to challenge Banerjee. 

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Elections to West Bengal’s 294 Assembly constituencies are scheduled from March 27 to April 29. Polling will be held in eight phases and votes will be counted on May 2.