Mamata calls Congress candidate ‘betrayer’ for snubbing her trust
The Statesman | 6 April 2026
Mamata Banerjee, chief of the Trinamul Congress, on Saturday launched a scathing attack on a Congress candidate from Malda, describing her as a “fugitive” and a “betrayer” for quitting the party after being elevated to the Rajya Sabha.
Addressing an election rally in the Malatipur Assembly segment, Miss Banerjee said she had personally ensured the political rise of “a girl from Malda” by sending her to the Rajya Sabha on a Trinamul Congress ticket.
“It is not easy to become a Rajya Sabha MP. She enjoyed the position for six years on our ticket. But just a month ago, she resigned from our party and is now contesting on a Congress ticket,” she said in a indirect reference to Mausam Noor.
Drawing a personal analogy, she added: “Like a mother gives everything to her child, I gave her respect and position. I have no objection if she joins another party, but I will say this ~ do not vote for betrayers.”
She urged voters not to support the Congress candidate, alleging that the latter had benefitted from the party’s support at every stage of her political career. “She reached the Rajya Sabha with the votes of Trinamul MLAs, including mine. And now she has turned against the party,” Miss Banerjee said.
Taking a broader swipe at the Indian National Congress, she accused the party of opportunism. “When we called for a joint movement on key issues related to SIR, they remained silent. Now they have suddenly become active,” she said, likening them to “seasonal players”.
Questioning the party’s electoral relevance, she added: “What is the point of voting for them? Can they form the government? If not, why waste your vote?”
In an emotional appeal, Miss Banerjee said supporting such candidates would hurt her personally. “I have sentiments too. If you vote for her, I will feel insulted. I may not maintain the same relationship with the people here, though government schemes will continue,” she said.
Recalling her own political journey, she said she had once been in the Congress before forming the Trinamul Congress after being sidelined. She alleged that the Congress, the CPI-M, and the Bharatiya Janata Party were now working together against her party in West Bengal. “Do not forgive betrayal,” she added.
It may be noted that Ms Mausam Noor was first elected as a Congress MLA and later served two terms as a Member of Parliament from Malda Uttar on a Congress ticket. In 2019, she contested the Lok Sabha election from the same constituency on a Trinamul Congress ticket but was defeated by the BJP. After being denied a ticket in the subsequent parliamentary polls, Ms Noor quit the Trinamul Congress, returned to the Congress, and is now contesting as a Congress candidate from the Malatipur Assembly segment.
Miss Banerjee alleged that the Congress and the BJP had a tacit understanding in Malda district. “The Congress and the BJP have an understanding. They have shared two MP seats in Malda. If they are elected, who will take care of you?” she asked.
Urging voters to reject the Congress in the Assembly polls, she added: “Do not prefer to vote for the Congress.”
Miss Banerjee addressed a series of election rallies at Manikchak, Malatipur and Gazole in Malda district and also took part in a roadshow in English Bazar town.
At Malatipur, she questioned the removal of her family members’ names from the electoral rolls. “If our names are deleted, does that mean we are anuprabeshkari (infiltrators)? Who are you? Are you mukhoshdhari (masked)?” she asked, taking a swipe at the BJP.
She accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of attempting to manipulate the electoral process and divide votes. Targeting Union home minister Amit Shah, Miss Banerjee used a popular Bengali song line to taunt him, saying, “Amit Shah bhai, tomar dekha nai re…”, before questioning his absence during crises.
“Where were you during floods? Did people see you then? But during elections, you come and try to capture Bengal through conspiracy,” she alleged.
Accusing the BJP of spreading misinformation, she said: “You are trying to divide votes and misguide people.”
Miss Banerjee also said that 25 per cent Dearness Allowance (DA) has been provided to government employees and assured that teachers would soon receive similar benefits.
Addressing party workers, she urged caution during the nomination process. “File nomination papers carefully and keep backup candidates ready,” she said, alleging that newly-appointed Election Commission officials could attempt to cancel nominations.
“If the official candidate’s nomination is cancelled, an alternative candidate must be ready to contest on behalf of the Trinamul Congress,” she added.