Mamata Banerjee Escalates Feud with BJP, Likens Saffron Party to Snake
The political temperature in West Bengal soared on Friday as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), comparing it to a snake and accusing it of various electoral malpractices. This sharp retort came just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi labeled the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government as "nirmam" or cruel, intensifying the war of words ahead of the state's crucial assembly elections.
Banerjee's Rally in Tentulia: A Fiery Counterattack
Addressing a spirited election rally in Tentulia, located in North 24 Parganas district, Banerjee made her stance unequivocally clear. "Even a snake can be trusted, but not the BJP. I am the candidate for TMC. Vote for TMC if you want to keep the state safe," she declared, urging voters to support her party for security and stability.
Banerjee did not stop there. She leveled serious allegations against the BJP, claiming that the party had imported voters from outside states to influence election outcomes. "A trainload of 50,000 people was brought to Assam from Uttar Pradesh," she asserted, referencing the recent Assam assembly elections that concluded in a single phase on Thursday. She warned that similar tactics might be employed in West Bengal, citing the recent transfer of a large number of police and administrative officers by the Election Commission as evidence of potential interference.
"People, money and drugs are being brought in, but our workers will fight it out and win," Banerjee vowed, expressing confidence in her party's grassroots strength.
Allegations of Electoral Manipulation and Bias
The TMC chief further accused central investigative agencies of being blatantly biased under the BJP-led central government. "No agency in the country was neutral under the BJP government at the Centre as the saffron party has bought them all," she alleged, painting a picture of compromised institutions.
Banerjee pointed to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, under which she claimed a staggering 90 lakh names were removed from West Bengal's electoral rolls. Citing a newspaper report, she stated that out of these deletions, 60 lakh were Hindus and 30 lakh were Muslims. She drew parallels with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Assam, where she said 13 lakh Hindus and 6 lakh Muslims were delisted out of 19 lakh names, arguing that the BJP's actions disproportionately affected all communities.
She also highlighted that many Scheduled Caste individuals had their names deleted, including in her own constituency, but remained optimistic: "I am not worried, I have faith in people; we will get all the remaining votes on the voter list."
Broader Accusations: Food Choices and Migrant Welfare
In a broader critique of BJP-ruled states, Banerjee alleged that a BJP government in West Bengal would impose restrictions on non-vegetarian food. "People here eat according to their choice, but such is not the situation in BJP-ruled states," she said, claiming that fish consumption is not allowed in Bihar, leading to its export to other states.
She also targeted Prime Minister Modi over the treatment of migrant workers from West Bengal in BJP-ruled states. "You (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) cannot protect West Bengal's people in other states, but promise a 'Sonar Bangla' at rallies," she charged, demanding that security for Bengalis outside the state be ensured before such promises are made.
Context: Modi's 'Nirmam Sarkar' Jab and Electoral Stakes
Banerjee's remarks were a direct response to Prime Minister Modi's rally in Purba Medinipur district the previous day. Modi had accused the TMC government of holding Bengal back, calling it a "Nirmam Sarkar" that must be removed for a "Viksit Bengal." He interpreted the large turnout at his rally despite adverse weather as a sign of impending change, stating, "The people of Bengal are ready for a regime change, signalling that the TMC's exit from the state is inevitable."
West Bengal is set to vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. The first phase will cover 152 assembly constituencies, followed by 142 seats in the second phase. Banerjee and the TMC are seeking a fourth consecutive term, having been in power since 2011, while the BJP, which secured a record 77 seats in the 2021 polls, aims to unseat them as the principal opposition party.
In a bold move, Banerjee asked voters to consider her as the TMC's candidate in all 294 seats, saying, "If you want a Trinamool Congress government under my leadership, then I am the candidate in all seats." This statement underscores her central role in the party's campaign and the high-stakes nature of the upcoming elections.
