West Bengal polls turn combative
As PM Modi promises more sops to the State, CM Mamata warns of welfare rollback, misuse of agencies
As the battle heats up in the run-up to the State Assembly polls in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not shy away from trading barbs. PM Modi addressed three massive rallies in the State and targeted Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Congress, claiming that both parties “colluded” to prevent from “ensuring more women enter legislative bodies.”
In his Bankura rally, Modi accused the TMC of “betraying” women by preventing the passage of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in Parliament, and asserted that the women would punish the ruling party in West Bengal in the upcoming Assembly polls.
“The TMC does not want women's empowerment and reservation. It does not want women from West Bengal to become MPs and MLAs in large numbers because women of the State are challenging its mahajungleraj. That is why they conspired with the Congress and opposed the bill. The women of West Bengal will punish TMC in this election,” he said.
In another rally at Medinipur, the PM slammed the ruling TMC, alleging that it “earned a PhD in looting” over the last 15 years, and thrived on infiltration and the politics of appeasement, pushing youth, women and farmers into despair.
In an attempt to reassure State Government employees, who have long been demanding parity with Union Government staff, PM Modi promised implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission if the BJP came to power in the State.
Seeking to woo women voters, the PM highlighted the BJP’s proposed “Matri Shakti Bharosa Card” through which scheme would provide Rs 36,000 annually to women, Rs 21,000 to pregnant women and Rs 50,000 for the education of daughters.
Responding to PM’s statements, Mamata alleged that the Union Government was plotting to push through the delimitation exercise by “using women as a shield”. Questioning how many times the “same bill needs to be passed,” Mamata claimed that the Union Government linked the delimitation bill with the women’s quota legislation tabled in the Lok Sabha.
Addressing a poll rally at Tarakeswar, she accused the PM of “misusing” Government machinery for political campaigns. Addressing another poll rally at Kalna in Purba Bardhaman district, Banerjee alleged that the BJP, if it comes to power, will take away all the welfare benefits introduced by the TMC Government, such as ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’, ‘Joy Johar’ for the Adivasis or ‘Oikyoshree’ for the minorities.
Accusing the BJP of indulging in vindictive politics by using agencies such as the CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax department to intimidate TMC leaders, Mamata threatened legal action, saying, “Nothing happens in one-sided manner.”
