“Other parties have struck deals with BJP,” says Abhishek Banerjee in Malda

Trinamool Congress national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday alleged that several political parties have entered into a “deal” with the BJP, asserting that only the Trinamool Congress has consistently defeated the saffron party in West Bengal. Addressing a public meeting in Malda, he said opposition disunity ultimately benefits the BJP.

Speaking at a rally in Jalangi under the Old Malda police station area, Banerjee assured that migrant workers from West Bengal would no longer be forced to leave the state for employment. He said the Trinamool government was focused on creating jobs within Bengal and accused the Centre and the BJP of ignoring the plight of migrant workers.

Banerjee also alleged that Bengali-speaking migrant workers are being harassed in other states by being branded as “Bangladeshis.” He announced that the party would provide legal assistance to any worker facing such targeting and extended the ‘Ek Dake Abhishek’ helpline to Malda, which is already operational in Diamond Harbour.

Without naming him, Banerjee took a sharp swipe at suspended Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir over remarks related to the Babri Masjid issue. He said leaders who once aligned with the BJP were now trying to divide people in the name of religion, stressing that helping the poor was the true message of faith.

Taking an indirect dig at the Congress, Banerjee said other parties lose to the BJP while the BJP loses to Trinamool. Referring to electoral trends, he warned that division of votes helps the BJP. Setting a clear political target, he said Trinamool must win all 12 Assembly seats in Malda.