BJP means detention, TMC means welfare: Abhishek sharpens attack
The Statesman | 15 April 2026
Setting the tone for an increasingly polarised electoral battle in West Bengal, Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday accused the BJP of pursuing a politics of “detention and deprivation”, positioning the Trinamul Congress (TMC) as a guarantor of “security and welfare” ahead of the Assembly polls.
Addressing a rally at Karimpur in Nadia district, Mr Banerjee, who came to campaign in favour actor-cum-party’s candidate Soham Chatterjee, launched a scathing attack on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise had been used to instil fear among voters and arbitrarily curtail their democratic rights. He claimed that people were made to stand in long queues only to find their names deleted, and called upon them to “give a fitting reply through the ballot”.
Mr Banerjee asserted that the alleged impact of the revision process had cut across political lines. “Even supporters of the BJP are being deprived of their rights,” he said, urging voters not to be intimidated and assuring that all legitimate voters would have their rights restored if the TMC returns to power.
Sharpening his attack, he described the BJP’s central leadership as “outsiders” who, he alleged, fail to understand Bengal’s social and cultural ethos. “What we eat, wear, and how we live will be decided by the people of Bengal, not outsiders,” he said, invoking regional identity as a key plank of the party’s campaign.
The Diamond Harbour MP further alleged that marginalised sections, including Matuas, Namashudras and other backward class communities, had been disproportionately affected by the SIR despite possessing valid documents. “BJP means detention, and TMC means no tension,” he remarked, underscoring the party’s messaging.
In a direct challenge to the Centre, Mr Banerjee dared the BJP to present a “report card” of the Narendra Modi government’s performance over the past decade and compare it with the TMC’s 15-year tenure in West Bengal. “If they have the courage, let them come for an open debate backed by facts and statistics,” he said.
Reinforcing the TMC’s welfare narrative, Mr Banerjee said the state government would continue and expand its flagship schemes. He referred to Lakshmir Bhandar and reiterated promises of ensuring piped drinking water to every household, organising block-level health camps, and expanding old-age pension coverage. He went a step further, asserting that he would quit politics if the BJP were able to implement a scheme comparable to Lakshmir Bhandar in any state it governs.
Outlining local priorities, Mr Banerjee highlighted a series of development commitments for Karimpur and reminded the gathering of the party’s “five pledges”. He assured that, if voted to power, old-age pension benefits would be directly credited to the accounts of all eligible elderly citizens.
The rally in Karimpur reflects the sharpening contest in Nadia district, with both the TMC and the BJP stepping up their campaigns amid a larger debate over voter roll revisions, welfare delivery, and questions of identity in the run-up to the Assembly elections.