Key Points:
- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of manipulating voter lists with the help of the Election Commission (EC), using “fake voters” from other states.
- She claimed similar tactics were used by the BJP to win elections in Delhi and Maharashtra and vowed to prevent such practices in Bengal.
- Banerjee announced an all-party meeting on March 5 and directed Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers to verify voter lists at the booth level within 10 days.
- The TMC has set a target of winning over 215 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections, aiming for a fourth consecutive term.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of enrolling fake voters from states like Haryana and Gujarat into West Bengal’s electoral rolls with the alleged support of the Election Commission. Speaking at a Trinamool Congress (TMC) convention in Kolkata, Banerjee warned that such “manipulation” would not be tolerated in Bengal.
“This is how the BJP won elections in Delhi and Maharashtra—by enrolling fake voters. Now they are targeting Bengal. But let me make it clear: what happened there will not happen here,” Banerjee declared. She alleged that this tactic is being employed in constituencies where the BJP lost narrowly in the 2021 Assembly elections.
Allegations Against the Election Commission
Banerjee expressed concerns over the impartiality of the Election Commission, particularly after the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner. She alleged that Kumar, who previously worked as a secretary under Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is aligned with BJP interests.
“I used to respect the Election Commission, but now it seems filled with BJP-minded individuals. The EC is supposed to safeguard democracy, not assist in its manipulation,” Banerjee said. She also warned that if corrective measures are not taken, she would stage an indefinite protest outside the EC office in Delhi.
Action Plan: Verifying Voter Lists
Banerjee has made voter list verification a top priority for her party ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. She directed TMC workers to begin physically verifying electoral rolls at every booth and report findings within seven days.
To oversee this process, she announced a high-level committee led by TMC state president Subrata Bakshi, which includes senior leaders like Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, and others. The verification process will start on Friday and must be completed within 10 days.
“Booth workers must immediately begin verifying voter lists to identify fake entries. District presidents should monitor this process closely,” she instructed.
Political Strategy for 2026: ‘Khela Hobe’ Returns
Banerjee has set an ambitious target of winning over 215 seats in the 294-member Assembly, one more than the TMC’s tally of 214 seats in 2021. She urged party workers to ensure that BJP candidates lose their deposits in every constituency.
“Our goal is not just to win but to crush their numbers further. Once again, ‘Khela Hobe’ (the game is on). This time, we will strike back even harder,” she said.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee echoed her sentiments, calling for unity and discipline among party workers. “The battle for Bengal’s future has begun. We must ensure Mamata Banerjee’s fourth consecutive term as Chief Minister,” he said.
Accusations Against BJP’s Tactics
Banerjee alleged that BJP had hired agencies like Association of Billion Minds and India 360 to manipulate voter rolls by adding names from other states without conducting field surveys. She claimed to have evidence of duplicate entries where names from Haryana and Gujarat appear alongside West Bengal residents under identical EPIC (Election Photo Identity Card) numbers.
“The cat is out of the bag now,” she said while holding up a list she claimed contained fake voter entries. “We will not allow outsiders to take over Bengal. This is not Delhi or Maharashtra.”
BJP Responds
The BJP dismissed Banerjee’s allegations as baseless and accused her of trying to divert attention from her government’s failures. BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya said, “Mamata Banerjee knows she is losing ground in Bengal and is making such statements to boost her party workers’ morale.”
He further accused the TMC of being involved in electoral malpractices themselves, stating, “The world knows TMC for its mastery in vote rigging and violence.”
A High-Stakes Battle Ahead
The allegations have intensified political tensions as both parties gear up for what promises to be a heated electoral contest in 2026. While Mamata Banerjee seeks to consolidate her position with a focus on voter list integrity and grassroots mobilization, the BJP aims to expand its influence in a state where it won 77 seats in 2021.
With accusations flying on both sides and preparations underway for a high-stakes election, all eyes are now on West Bengal as it becomes a battleground for democracy and political dominance.
