Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday (April 6, 2026) alleged that the BJP had struck a “silent deal” with the Congress and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, alleging that many IAS and IPS officers from West Bengal have been sent to the southern state as survey observers, hampering development work in the state.
It claimed that although four states and a union territory go to polls simultaneously, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has transferred around 500 officers in West Bengal compared to a handful in other poll-bound states.
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Ms. Banerjee said she would tour the country after the Assembly elections to forge opposition unity against the saffron party.
Addressing an election rally in Nadia district in support of party candidates, the CM claimed that several West Bengal cadre officers were sent by the ECI to Tamil Nadu as observers after the assembly elections were announced.
“You (BJP) must have some tacit understanding with the Congress and Stalin,” she claimed.
“They (BJP) are placing their own officers in prominent posts in West Bengal to ensure their free movement,” she alleged.
The main contest in Tamil Nadu is between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) – which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK – and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the AIADMK with the BJP, PMK, AMMK and others as allies.
Ms Banerjee claimed that the TMC would target the BJP in Delhi after it won the assembly polls in Bengal and said that they would take all parties for the purpose if necessary.
“I will travel the country to unite the opposition,” she said.
The TMC supremo alleged that the voter list on which the BJP came to power in 2024 was scrapped three months before the West Bengal assembly elections.
“You (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) should resign, the Home Minister, the entire government should resign,” Ms Banerjee alleged.
“Keep in mind that if you don’t do it, people will make you do it,” she said.
Ms. Banerjee claimed that if the BJP comes to power in Bengal, it will reduce the consumption of fish, meat and eggs.
“Due to SIR exercise, 250 people died in Bengal and you (BJP) have to take responsibility for it. I don’t blame the Election Commission, they are just parrots like CBI and ED,” she said.
The chief minister said the TMC did not support the gherao of judicial officials in Malda’s Mothabari and alleged that the BJP benefited from vote-splitting in Bihar with the help of AIMIM.
“We are not advocating any attack, but the officer who arrested the mastermind has been sent to Tamil Nadu,” she claimed, referring to IPS officer Supratim Sarkar, who was deputed as an observer.
Ms. Banerjee also questioned the process of granting citizenship, asking why those who were in India for a short period were granted citizenship while long-term residents faced the threat of being struck off the electoral rolls.
“We want to see a united India,” she said.
Ms. Banerjee alleged that Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal went to Nandigram on Sunday accompanied by BJP supporters.
Urging voters to respond through voting, Ms. Banerjee claimed that around 24 million names in the electoral rolls had been restored due to her efforts.
Stating that her government would not allow detention camps in the state, she said, “We will sink any move to evict people from Bengal through the NRC.” Ms. Banerjee said she would file her nomination from Bhabanipur Assembly constituency on April 8.
Addressing a TMC rally at Samudragarh in Purba Bardhaman district, the chief minister said that this election was different from the previous ones and alleged that the BJP had prepared to delete a large number of names from the electoral roll through the SIR exercise.
“BJP leaders used AI to erase voters’ names en masse; it will take revenge,” she warned.
Alleging that the BJP had stopped central funds for various social projects in the state, Ms. Banerjee said, “Such steps will not stop development work in Bengal.”
“I call on the people of Bengal to avenge the SIR-related harassment by defeating the BJP,” Ms. Banerjee said.
Addressing an election rally at Santipur in Nadia district, the TMC chief said the party celebrates all festivals, be it Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Eid or Christmas.
“But BJP is trying to create division among people in the name of religion. Teach them a lesson,” Ms. Banerjee said.
Ms Banerjee mocked the BJP for its promise to give ₹3,000 to every woman in the state replacing the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, where ₹1,500 is given to general caste and ₹1,700 to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women, saying: “Instead you are giving a bulldozer.” The Chief Minister said that her government has introduced 105 social security schemes for the people.
She claims this choice is a “dharmayudh” (crusade), she said in this case dharma is humanity’s dharma, living with all.
“Your (BJP) dharma is dividing people but my dharma is unity, yours is to take away voting rights while mine is to restore them,” the TMC chief said.
Published – 06 Apr 2026 22:29 IST
