Samik Bhattacharya calls Bengal ‘Western Bangladesh’ under TMC, alleges voter fraud

BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya made a series of allegations against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress during a press conference in Siliguri. He claimed that the state government is enabling the inclusion of Bangladeshi nationals in the voter list through the use of fake Aadhaar cards and passports. He alleged that this practice is altering the state's demographic balance and said, “West Bengal is gradually turning into Western Bangladesh.”

Bhattacharya said that Mamata Banerjee has “ruined Bengalis” and accused her of pursuing divisive politics that are damaging the state's social structure. He expressed concern that her public statements could put Bengalis living in other Indian states at risk. He also said, “The Chief Minister is allergic to the word Ram” and accused her of “challenging Rabindranath Tagore.”

On the issue of North Bengal, Bhattacharya said the region is being deprived of development. He claimed that tea gardens in North Bengal are being shut down to make way for resorts and said that the budget allocation for the region is insufficient. He also targeted local leaders, saying, “They never demand development for North Bengal,” referring to Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb and Minister Udayan Guha.

Bhattacharya called for all opposition parties to unite against the Trinamool Congress. He described the Congress party as “irrelevant” and alleged that the current government has “sold off education and jobs.” He concluded by stating that the BJP is organizing its leadership and workers across the state and that “the people of North Bengal no longer want this government.” He ended the session without taking questions from reporters.