“Consider me the candidate in all 294 seats”: Mamata attacks BJP over voter list and farmers’ issues

Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party during a public meeting in Chandrakona, asserting her government’s development record while accusing the opposition of interfering in electoral processes. “No one needs to teach me how development should be done. I have developed the state,” she said, positioning her administration as experienced and capable ahead of the Assembly elections.

Raising concerns over the ongoing voter list revision, Banerjee alleged that names of women, minorities, and Scheduled Castes were being deliberately removed. She claimed that attempts were being made to manipulate the electoral rolls by including names of people from outside states such as Bihar, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. According to her, around 30,000 such names were recently submitted, which she alleged were not genuine voters of West Bengal.

The Chief Minister also criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, calling it “disastrous” and alleging that voter deletions were being carried out at the behest of the BJP. She further stated that democracy was under threat and warned that such actions would not go unanswered by the electorate. Emphasising her party’s strength, she said the Trinamool Congress had grown into an “ocean” that could not be shaken.

Addressing economic concerns, Banerjee urged people not to politicise agricultural issues like potato trade and assured that farmers would be compensated if required. Campaigning for TMC candidate Suryakanta Dolui, she appealed to voters to see her as the face of the party across all 294 constituencies. She also highlighted welfare measures, including crop insurance coverage and expansion of cold storage facilities, while accusing the Centre of depriving the state and alleging conspiracies by sections of the opposition.