The day polls are over, LPG price will go up to Rs 2,000: Abhishek at Binpur
The Statesman | 28 March 2026
Escalating the political battle ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday launched a blistering attack on the BJP from a packed rally in Binpur, daring the saffron party to replicate West Bengal’s welfare schemes in any BJP-ruled state while asserting that the ruling party’s return to power was “inevitable.”
Campaigning for Trinamul candidate and state minister Birbaha Hansda, Mr Banerjee claimed the massive turnout under scorching heat signalled a decisive electoral mood in Junglelmahal. “People standing here for hours have not come merely to hear speeches, they have come after deciding whom they will vote for,” he said, declaring that victory for the Trinamul’s twin-flower symbol was only a matter of time.
District president Dulal Murmu, along with party candidates Mangal Soren and Ajit Mahato, shared the dais at the rally attended by supporters from remote villages across Binpur and Jambani blocks.
Addressing a packed gathering, Mr Banerjee framed the election as a contest between “welfare-driven governance” and what he described as the BJP’s “politics of promises and price hikes.” In one of his strongest remarks of the campaign so far, he challenged BJP leaders to put in writing that prices of LPG, petrol, and diesel would remain unchanged if voted to power.
“If BJP leaders can stand before the people and guarantee that cooking gas, petrol and diesel prices will not increase for the next five years, we are ready to withdraw our candidate,” Mr Banerjee declared, alleging that fuel prices would soar immediately after polling concluded in Bengal. “They are only waiting for the elections to end,” he added.
The rally saw the Trinamul leader presenting what he termed a “development report card” of the state government in the Binpur Assembly constituency. Citing official figures, he said 84,499 women in the area are beneficiaries of the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, while more than 3.15 lakh residents have been covered under the Swasthya Sathi health insurance programme. He further claimed that nearly 2.88 lakh people receive free rations and over 12,000 families have benefited from housing assistance under the Bangla Awas Yojana.
Highlighting development initiatives undertaken in the region, Mr Banerjee pointed to the expansion of Bengali and Olchiki-medium education, improved rural healthcare infrastructure including a caesarean surgery unit at Belpahari Rural Hospital, new health and wellness centres, bridge construction in remote pockets, and extensive street lighting and drinking water pipeline projects under state schemes.
Framing the election as a contest between “local leadership and outsider politics,” Mr Banerjee contrasted Hansda ~ whom he described as a grassroots leader and experienced minister ~ with the BJP nominee, alleging the opposition candidate lacked roots in the constituency and had previously faced electoral defeat elsewhere.
Turning his attack towards the Narendra Modi-led Central government, Mr Banerjee accused it of neglecting tribal communities and withholding funds meant for Bengal under the rural employment guarantee scheme. He alleged that wages under the 100-day work programme had remained unpaid for years due to Central intervention.
“One government is putting money directly into people’s bank accounts, while another is taking it away through rising prices of gas, food and essential commodities,” he said, referring to the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme that provides monthly financial assistance to women.
The Trinamul leader also warned against what he termed divisive politics, alleging attempts to polarise communities along religious and ethnic lines. Referring to discussions around the Uniform Civil Code, he claimed tribal customs and traditional rights could be affected if such policies were implemented nationwide.
Recalling the violence and instability that once marked Junglemahal before 2011, Mr Banerjee credited chief minister Mamata Banerjee with restoring peace and expanding welfare delivery and infrastructure in the region.