“19 CMs campaigning in Bengal with 100 helicopters using black money”: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp and wide-ranging attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party during a high-voltage election campaign in Shakespeare Sarani, declaring that after winning Bengal her “target is Delhi” and that she would not stop her political journey. She accused the BJP of engaging in divisive politics and raised multiple allegations against the Centre, the Election Commission, and central agencies during her address.

Banerjee alleged that 19 Chief Ministers were campaigning in Bengal with 100 helicopters, which she described as being funded through black money. She said the Women’s Reservation Bill was forcibly passed in 2023, and claimed that the Centre later attempted to bring a delimitation-related bill with amendments under a different framework. She also alleged that no BJP government could ensure women’s safety and raised repeated concerns about central policies affecting the state.

During her speech, Mamata Banerjee referred to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) system and stated that her voting button is number 2, adding that she was earlier told it was number 5. She questioned the discrepancy and asked why she was given conflicting information, further stating that button number 2 represents victory and urged supporters to vote accordingly. She also asked Bobby Hakeem why she was earlier informed about a different button number.

As part of her campaign outreach, Banerjee said she can eat anything in a shop and personally visited Ganga Jamuna Apartment, where she conducted door-to-door campaigning and interacted with residents. She also made a remark about cooking food herself for voters, saying she would personally prepare meals if needed and serve them, adding that she would ensure Bengali cuisine such as fish and rice would be offered to people as part of her outreach message.

She further said she would prepare a special “nettle leaf sweet” for women, describing it as a symbolic recipe and suggesting it should be made with gloves and a hint of lime, saying it would have a “facial-like effect.” She alleged that the BJP is not allowing her candidates to campaign properly, claiming raids are being conducted at homes and that central agencies are being misused. She called BJP leaders “thieves, traitors, and robbers” and alleged harassment of women, stating that false cases and drug-related accusations are being planted against Trinamool members. She added that the administration is tracking names, addresses, and phone numbers of those involved in such actions.

Banerjee questioned alleged restrictions on eating habits, asking why people are beaten or killed for eating fish or meat in some states and why Bengalis are labelled outsiders. She accused the BJP of targeting Bengal culturally and politically, while asserting that Bengal represents unity among communities. Referring to a jhalmuri incident, she mocked political optics, questioning why cameras were present and alleging staged events involving ₹10 transactions.

On the Women’s Reservation Bill, she said it was passed on 25 September 2023 but accused the Centre of misleading people and delaying notification despite claiming credit. She alleged that the bill was not a genuine women’s bill but linked it to delimitation-related changes. On gas supply, she claimed credit for ensuring its continuation in Bengal and warned of price increases after elections.

She further alleged infiltration-related narratives were being used politically and said multiple states including Noida, Assam, and Manipur were facing unrest. She criticised the Centre for conducting security meetings while failing to control violence in other regions. She said she remains silent for dignity but described the situation as an “upside-down world.”

Referring to national security, she said soldiers are being saluted for their sacrifices but questioned the Centre’s effectiveness in handling incidents like Pahalgam, alleging failure despite high-level meetings and security arrangements. She also accused authorities of targeting women through searches and stated that any harm to people would be the responsibility of the BJP.

Banerjee further alleged that Trinamool Congress members are being falsely labelled as thieves and said BJP has become a “party of robbers,” while accusing CPM elements of aligning with the BJP. She referred to alleged vote manipulation, questioning voter list changes and accusing authorities of cutting votes in constituencies.

Concluding her speech, she accused the BJP of attempting to create unrest in Bengal, comparing present-day political actions to historical post-independence efforts of maintaining peace. She asserted that Bengal would respond through the ballot and reiterated her claim that her political journey would extend beyond Bengal towards Delhi.