Kolkata, 13 April (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Centre and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while addressing an election rally in Suri, Birbhum, during the ongoing campaign for the 2026 Assembly elections.
Raising fresh allegations over the nomination process, Banerjee claimed that she was subjected to prolonged scrutiny. “During my nomination, I was made to undergo scrutiny for four hours. Should I spare them? People may forgive, but I will not,” she said, urging supporters to act as her “co-fighters” on polling day.
Taking aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee challenged his political positioning, saying that if he considers himself a candidate across all 294 Assembly seats in the state, he should clarify whether he intends to remain Prime Minister or become Chief Minister of West Bengal. She also reiterated her charge that the BJP is an “outsider” in the state.
On employment, the Chief Minister questioned the Centre over its promise of generating two crore jobs. She alleged that whenever the state government attempts to fill vacancies, legal hurdles are created, stalling recruitment processes.
Continuing her attack, Banerjee asked whether the BJP would be able to provide jobs, pointing to vacancies in sectors such as the armed forces and the railways. She asserted that her government remains committed to employment generation.
Responding to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s remarks on “bulldozer politics,” Banerjee said she believes in “politics of love and development, not bulldozers.”
On corruption allegations, she hit back at BJP leaders, questioning financial activities linked to Haldia Port and accusing them of hypocrisy. She also cautioned voters against accepting money from the BJP, alleging that such inducements could later lead to action by central agencies.
Highlighting her government’s development initiatives, Banerjee said that 105 social welfare schemes are currently being implemented in the state. She referred to the Deucha-Pachami project, stating that it involves an investment of Rs 32,000 crore and is expected to generate employment for nearly two lakh people.
She also maintained that her government fulfills its electoral promises, citing schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar as examples.
Banerjee has four programmes scheduled for the day. After Suri, she is set to campaign in Kanksa, Bankura, and Durgapur through rallies and a roadshow in support of Trinamool Congress candidates.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
