Cooch Behar, 16 April (H.S.) : With political activity intensifying ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party while addressing an election rally in Cooch Behar district.

The rally was held at Ghoksadanga in the Mathabhanga Assembly constituency in support of Trinamool Congress candidate Sablul Barman.

In her address, Banerjee alleged that several opposition leaders across the country—including Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, M. K. Stalin, and Tejashwi Yadav—are in touch with her and share concerns over what she described as “atrocities” by the BJP in West Bengal.

She further alleged that the BJP lacks grassroots-level workers and is relying on external agencies to fill forms and deploy personnel at polling booths. According to her, the party is attempting to influence the electoral process through the use of money power.

Raising concerns over the Women’s Reservation Bill, Banerjee claimed that linking it with delimitation is part of a larger conspiracy aimed at dividing the state, deleting voters’ names, and eventually implementing the NRC.

Without naming him directly, she also targeted the Union Home Minister, remarking that those talking about sending people out of the country would themselves be sent to detention camps.

The Chief Minister criticised the BJP over its ‘Matrishakti Card’ initiative and urged people not to share personal information such as mobile numbers and bank details while filling out any forms.

On the law and order situation, Banerjee said that although it is not currently under her direct control, it would be in the future. She also questioned why incidents of unrest tend to increase in Cooch Behar during election periods.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh