West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday addressed an election rally in Haldia and asserted that the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) would return to power in the state for a fourth consecutive term.
With the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections approaching, political activity in the state has intensified. Speaking at the rally, Banerjee said that the TMC would form the government again and that the people would not accept the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She also criticised the opposition and called on her supporters to remain united in the electoral contest.
Banerjee stated that her recent visits across different parts of the state over the past month indicated that people were not satisfied with the BJP. She said that voters prioritise development, social security, and regional identity, and that these factors were contributing to support for the TMC.
In her address, Banerjee also targeted the central government and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). She called for opposition parties to unite and said that political change was required at the national level. She further stated that significant political developments could be seen in the country after 2026.
Banerjee responded to a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which he had said that he was a candidate for the BJP in all 294 seats in West Bengal. Referring to this, she said that if that were the case, he should first resign from the post of Prime Minister. The remark drew attention among those present at the rally.
During the rally, Banerjee also made an indirect reference to Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, stating without naming him that some leaders had become arrogant and that their entire families were active in politics. She defended her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, stating that the opposition continued to make allegations against him but that the public understood the reality.
Responding to recent allegations by Amit Shah against the TMC government on issues including corruption, law and order, and infiltration, Banerjee said that similar accusations regarding practices such as ‘cut-money’ in industrial areas and ports could also be applied to the BJP. She added that the TMC government had prioritised development and social welfare schemes in the state.
