CM blames EC for hostage crisis; Didi says she is without administrative control now, asks people not to fall for provocation
Telegraph | 3 April 2026
Mamata Banerjee on Thursday held the Election Commission squarely responsible for the captivity of seven judicial officers in Malda district on the previous day and demanded the resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah, whom she accused of hatching a conspiracy to impose the President’s rule in Bengal.
“This is the BJP’s game plan. They don’t want elections. They want the President’s rule. Do you (people) want that? Or do you want a peaceful election through which Trinamool (retains) power? If you trust me, don’t get ensnared by provocation,” the chief minister told an election rally at Sagardighi in Murshidabad district.
Mamata was candid about her lack of control over the administrative machinery, which is now answering to the EC. But her frustration was palpable.
“I condemn the Election Commission,” she said.
“You (Shah) don’t know Bengal’s demography and then you say that ‘the demography of Bengal has changed’. Union home minister Amit Shah orchestrated this total fiasco... his blueprint, with the help of the EC.... He has destroyed our country,” she added.
“Why can’t you keep faith in me? Do you want the BJP to rule in Bengal? Don’t fall for any provocation... when Bengal is humiliated, I feel humiliated too.”
Mamata repeatedly reminded the audience in her rallies at Muslim-dominated belts of Sagardighi and Suti of Murshidabad and Baishnabnagar of Malda, which was barely 15km from Wednesday’s epicentre, that she currently had no power.
“The chief secretary (commission-appointee Dushyant Nariala) failed to control the situation. I was not even informed. I learned about the situation from a journalist at 12am. Isn’t it humiliating for me?” Mamata asked.
“He (Nariala) has not even called me since taking charge.... All the officers showcaused by the Supreme Court were appointed by the commission.”
The chief minister conceded that while the people’s anger over the mass deletion of names was genuine, the blockade of judicial officers was a tactical disaster.
“I agree with the Supreme Court.... The whole state has been disgraced because of this incident. I strongly ask everyone not to attack any judge on behalf of anybody... I never support those who perpetrate violence.”
The Supreme Court had earlier in the day slammed the administration for its “complete failure” and inaction over the “deplorable” gherao of the seven judicial officers.
Mamata warned that such mob outbursts would lead to central agencies sweeping in to make arrests, and she would be unable to offer protection.
“Tomorrow is Friday, do not yield to provocation again or do anything that may get you arrested by the CBI or the NIA. The BJP, the Congress, and that communal man from Hyderabad (Asaduddin Owaisi)... or the fool here (Humayun Kabir) might try to provoke you. Young people could get involved. Then they would be taken into custody... everything will be lost,” she said.
“We should not forgive Amit Shah. Law and order in the state is being labelled as bad owing to one incident. It seems that, except for the people, no one is with me,” the chief minister rued. “It is my promise, I will drive out the BJP first from Bengal and then from Delhi.”