Mamata claims voters forced to swear on Gita, Quran to vote BJP, challenges party to “direct fight”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a sharp attack ahead of the elections, alleging possible tampering of EVM machines, voter intimidation, and obstruction of movement, while addressing a rally in Amdanga in support of party candidate Khasem Siddiqui. She urged voters to remain alert, claiming that attempts could be made to manipulate voting machines by inserting chips and influencing results, and asked people to patiently verify and cast their votes carefully.

Raising concerns over electoral integrity, Mamata alleged that outsiders from states like Rajasthan and Bihar were being brought in to cast fake votes. She called upon local residents, especially women, to take responsibility in preventing such incidents and ensure that no one escapes after attempting fraudulent voting. She also asked voters to verify supplementary voter lists and promised restoration of genuine names that may have been removed.

The Chief Minister further alleged administrative obstruction, claiming that roads to Kolaghat had been blocked since the previous night by political opponents, along with disruptions in railway services in West Midnapore. She urged people to travel in groups to polling booths to ensure they could exercise their democratic rights. At the same time, she accused the Election Commission of suppressing the announcement of a 4 percent Dearness Allowance hike, stating that it had been kept pending despite being processed by the state government.

Mamata also claimed that individuals returning from other states were being forced to swear on religious texts like the Gita and Quran to vote for a particular party, calling it a serious violation of democratic norms. She said she had received multiple distress calls regarding restrictions on movement, including limitations on bike usage and disruptions in transport. Referring to her own campaign experience, she alleged being denied permission for meetings in certain areas, though she proceeded informally.

Emphasising her party’s resilience, Mamata asserted that defeating them would not be easy and accused opponents of trying to destabilise the democratic process. She concluded by outlining her campaign schedule, stating she would next address rallies in Haripal and Howrah in support of party candidates, continuing her outreach ahead of polling.