At a campaign rally in Cooch Behar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of attempting to influence the electoral process and urged voters to remain vigilant ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Cooch Behar, April 16: With political activity gathering pace ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday sharpened her attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a public rally in Cooch Behar district.
Addressing supporters at Ghoksadanga in the Mathabhanga Assembly constituency, Banerjee campaigned in favour of Trinamool Congress candidate Sablul Barman and used the platform to raise concerns over the conduct of the opposition party during the election period.
Key Highlights from the Rally
Banerjee alleged that several opposition leaders from across the country are in communication with her and share similar concerns about the BJP’s functioning in West Bengal.
She referred to leaders including Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, M. K. Stalin and Tejashwi Yadav, claiming that they have expressed concerns over what she described as political “atrocities” in the state.
The Chief Minister also accused the BJP of lacking a strong grassroots organisational network in the region. According to her, the party is depending on outside personnel and agencies for election-related work, including form-filling and booth-level operations.
She further alleged that attempts were being made to influence the electoral process through the use of financial resources.
Concerns Over Women’s Reservation Bill and Delimitation
A significant part of Banerjee’s speech focused on the Women’s Reservation Bill and the issue of delimitation.
She claimed that linking women’s reservation to delimitation could have wider political implications, alleging that it may lead to voter list revisions, deletion of names and possible implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Delimitation refers to the redrawing of electoral constituency boundaries, typically based on population changes. The issue has often been politically sensitive, particularly in states where concerns over representation and demographic shifts remain central to electoral debates.
Remarks on Data Privacy and Welfare Outreach
Banerjee also criticised the BJP’s ‘Matrishakti Card’ initiative and urged voters to exercise caution while sharing personal details.
She specifically advised people not to provide sensitive information such as mobile numbers and bank account details while filling out forms, raising concerns over privacy and misuse of personal data.
Law and Order and Election-Period Tensions
Turning to the law and order situation, the Chief Minister questioned why incidents of unrest tend to increase in Cooch Behar during election periods.
She said that while law and order is not presently under her direct control, it would be so in the future, indicating that the issue remains politically significant in the district.
Cooch Behar has historically been a politically contested region in West Bengal, often witnessing heightened tensions during major elections.
Why This Matters
Banerjee’s remarks come at a time when political parties are intensifying their campaign efforts ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Her focus on voter awareness, data privacy, and allegations surrounding electoral management reflects the broader political narrative likely to dominate the campaign season in West Bengal in the months ahead.
With Cooch Behar remaining a key battleground district, campaign messaging from both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP is expected to intensify further as the state moves closer to the polls.
inputs and images : Hindustan samachar
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Edited By D.Rishidhar Reddy
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