Abhishek’s ‘development vs deception’ pitch at Haringhata
The Statesman | 28 April 2026
In a high-pitched final push ahead of the 29 April polling, Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday cast the Haringhata contest as a decisive choice between “development and deception,” urging voters to hand the party a margin of over 30,000 votes and promising to “personally safeguard” the constituency’s growth trajectory.
Breaking his usual practice of concluding campaigns in his Diamond Harbour bastion, Mr Banerjee travelled to Haringhata to back party nominee Rajib Biswas, describing him as “family” and a grassroots leader who rose through student and youth politics. Addressing a packed rally ground, he alleged that development initiatives launched under the Trinamul regime had been “deliberately stalled” after the BJP’s electoral gains in the area.
“I have executed projects worth Rs 6,200 crore in my Lok Sabha constituency over the past decade. Give Rajib a victory margin of over 30,000 votes, and I will ensure Haringhata is protected and developed,” Mr Banerjee said, sharpening the stakes of what is being viewed as a closely watched seat in Nadia district.
The TMC leader mounted a direct attack on the BJP and its candidate Asim Sarkar, challenging him to present even “five per cent” of comparable development work. He also questioned the BJP’s unfulfilled promises around the Citizenship Amendment Act, alleging that members of the Matua community had been “humiliated and excluded” despite assurances of citizenship.
Mr Banerjee’s speech repeatedly returned to welfare delivery and infrastructure expansion as proof points of TMC governance. He cited the rollout of schemes such as Lakshmir Bhandar, Banglar Bari and Yuva Sathi, alongside road construction under Pathashree, to argue that “even after losing elections, it was Trinamul that continued to deliver.”
Highlighting industrial activity, Mr Banerjee pointed to a major warehouse set up by Flipkart in Haringhata, claiming it has generated around 5,000 direct jobs and benefited over 20,000 people indirectly. He added that fresh investment commitments from Reliance Industries could further boost employment prospects in the region.
Mr Banerjee also targeted the Centre over alleged fund constraints, claiming that allocations under the Jal Jeevan Mission had been “withheld,” particularly in arsenic-affected belts like Haringhata. He promised piped drinking water to every household within five years if the TMC candidate wins.
In a combative flourish, Mr Banerjee contrasted what he termed the BJP’s “double-engine failure” with TMC’s governance, quipping that “BJP’s guarantee means zero warranty, while Trinamul’s guarantee is lifetime warranty.” He further accused BJP leaders, including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, of failing to deliver financial benefits promised to citizens.
The rally also saw sharp political messaging aimed at consolidating Matua voters, a significant demographic in the region, with Mr Banerjee asserting that TMC had “stood by them legally and politically” when their citizenship status came under scrutiny.