Samserganj, April 5 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday urged people to vote to "take revenge" for the deletion of names from the electoral rolls.
The Trinamool Congress chief urged people whose names have been removed from the voter list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to file appeals before the tribunal.
Addressing an election rally in Samserganj, a key area for protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the Muslim-majority Murshidabad district in April 2025, she said, "Vote to take revenge for the deletion of names, and to ensure that the results reflect your will."
Banerjee asked TMC workers to remain vigilant until the counting date on May 4. The West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29.
In what appeared to be a reference to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Banerjee alleged that he was responsible for the deletion of voters' names in West Bengal during the SIR exercise.
"If you want to fight, fight directly," she said.
Urging all TMC workers to be vigilant during the election period, Banerjee said, "I hope none of our election agents will compromise with the BJP for the benefit of West Bengal."
Claiming that EVMs will malfunction in some areas, the TMC chief instructed party workers not to allow Election Commission officials to repair the machines and instead demand replacements.
Speaking at the rally in support of Mohammed Nur Alam in Samserganj and Mohammed Amirul Islam in Farakka, Banerjee accused the BJP of spreading misinformation about her, claiming that she had not done enough for the interests of Muslims, maintaining that she had fought hard against the implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
Violence erupted during the implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Murshidabad, leading to the death of some people, including a father-son duo who were killed by a mob, with the BJP accusing the TMC of orchestrating violent protests in various parts of the district.
Claiming that development work has stalled due to the Assembly elections, she said, "They (the Election Commission) have transferred nearly 500 officers, but this is only for a month; work will resume after that."
The chief minister accused the Election Commission of "deleting names while intimidating others" in the name of the SIR of electoral rolls.
Banerjee asked why the Assembly elections could not be conducted using the same electoral rolls used in the 2024 general elections.
"If the voter list contained the names of infiltrators, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister would also have won with their votes, so they should have resigned first," she said.
Claiming that she and her party will never allow the establishment of detention camps in the name of the NRC, Banerjee said, "That is why you are being vengeful against me."
She reminded that the Election Commission's authority over the state's administration is limited to the election process.
Addressing another public meeting in Murshidabad district's Jiaganj, Banerjee said that in her constituency, Bhabanipur in Kolkata, 40,000 names have been deleted from the electoral rolls.
"All those who are eligible to vote will vote in favor of the TMC," she asserted, maintaining that even the BJP's supporters will vote for the ruling party in Bengal.
Claiming that names of Hindus were also deleted in the SIR exercise, Banerjee said, "I am from a Hindu family, and the names of my family members have also been deleted."
She also accused the BJP of "spreading venom" in the name of religion, which stands for humanity.
The TMC chief asserted that migrant workers from Bengal staying in other states were being deported after being branded as Bangladeshis.
"I believe the actions taken by the BJP will lead to their downfall in 2026," she said.
Pointing to the Election Commission's action over clashes during a rally for BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's nomination from Bhabanipur, Banerjee claimed that it was a political matter and that locals protested when saffron party supporters were making "derogatory gestures."
"But at the behest of the BJP, four police officers, including a deputy commissioner, have been suspended," she alleged.
Asserting that she has fought her entire life, Banerjee said, "I will not let go an inch of land without a fight."
The CM said the fight is between her and the BJP in all 294 constituencies in the state.
Banerjee also wondered why several senior officers of her government, who were earlier replaced by the Election Commission, were being sent to poll-bound Tamil Nadu.
She alleged that officers who are relatives of BJP leaders have been deputed in West Bengal.
Seeking to quell disquiet among some party leaders over denial of election tickets, Banerjee said at Samserganj that those who work for the people will be nominated.
Stating that she has learned that TMC MLA Manirul Islam from Farakka filed nomination for the polls even after another leader Amirul Islam was given the ticket, Banerjee said, “I urge him to withdraw, but if he does not, I will ask district chairman Khalilur Rahman to suspend him from the party.”
"Those who disrespect the party's decision will not be spared," she said.
The TMC has changed candidates in 74 constituencies out of 294 for the Assembly polls, causing displeasure among some sitting MLAs who were denied tickets.
The CM also said the BJP brought in the AIMIM in collusion with "some traitors" in Bengal to divide Muslim votes.
