Modi Claims TMC if Wins will Form a Government “of Infiltrators, for Infiltrators,” Opposition Accuse PM of Violating Model Code

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Apr 19: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) asserting that the ongoing elections in West Bengal are about “protecting the state’s identity and rich legacy,” while the chief minister Mamata Banerjee and other opposition leaders complained of the Prime Minister violating the Model Code of Conduct in force in the poll-bound states by using the government machinery to propagate the BJP agenda to attack the opposition.

Addressing a public rally in Jhargram, the Prime Minister said, “This election in Bengal is to save the rich heritage of this land, to save Bengal’s identity. Today, Bengal is under threat of losing its identity. The path that TMC is following has a very dangerous agenda. TMC wants to form a government for infiltrators, of infiltrators. Such a government that will only protect the religion of infiltrators, the language of infiltrators, and the customs of infiltrators,” he said.

Calling the polls crucial, the Prime Minister said every section of society, across communities, classes, and regions, has resolved to remove the TMC government. “This election is not being fought by the BJP alone; it is the people of Bengal who are fighting against TMC,” he said.

PM Modi accused the ruling party of neglecting public welfare, alleging that its MPs and MLAs are “least bothered about people’s problems” and are instead focused on “filling their own pockets.” He also claimed that tribal communities have faced continued injustice under the TMC regime, with little access to education, healthcare, irrigation or livelihood opportunities.

“If one has to build a house, one has to depend on TMC’s Syndicate.  TMC’s MP and MLAs are the least bothered about your problems. They are busy filling their safes. In Bengal, thousands of acres of land of the tribals have been occupied by the goons of TMC,” he alleged.

Targeting the party on women’s issues, PM Modi alleged that TMC “betrayed women” and opposed their reservation in Parliament, creating hurdles for their political participation. He urged women voters to remain cautious of what he described as the party’s “misdeeds.”

“I want to caution the sisters of Bengal about the misdeeds of the TMC. The TMC came to power talking about ‘Ma, Mati, Manush’ but the TMC has betrayed the mothers. In the recent past, you also saw in Parliament that the BJP tried to ensure that reservation for women in elections starting from 2029 begins, but the anti-women TMC opposed it in Parliament. The TMC resorted to every kind of deceit and trickery so that women of Bengal could not get 33% reservation,” he said.

Ms Banerjee while addressing a rally at Tarakeswar in Hooghly district, accused the Prime Minister of misusing government machinery for political campaigning. She alleged that PM Modi carried out an “illegal campaign” for the BJP through his address to the nation on the women’s reservation bill.

“They (BJP) misused government machinery for political campaigns. We strongly condemn this and will file a complaint with the Election Commission,” Banerjee said, alleging a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

In an address to the nation on Saturday, a day after a bill to implement 33 per cent women’s reservation in legislatures from 2029 was defeated in the Lok Sabha, PM Modi warned the Congress and its allies that the women of India would severely punish them in the elections for “the sin of foeticide.”

Banerjee further said Prime Minister Modi must answer to the people for allegedly carrying out an “illegal campaign” for his party. “You (PM) have to answer to the people of India that you are doing an illegal campaign for your party,” she said.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief also pointed out that the women’s reservation bill was passed in September 2023 and questioned why it has not yet been implemented. Raising concerns over the process, she asked how many times the “same bill” needs to be passed and alleged that the BJP-led government had linked the delimitation bill with the women’s quota legislation tabled in the Lok Sabha. “They had the audacity to bring the bill in the Lok Sabha despite not having the requisite numbers to pass it,” she said, claiming that the BJP’s “downfall” has started.

Ms Banerjee also led a road show in walking nearly two kilometres in support of Trinamool Congress candidates for the assembly elections. Supporters and TMC workers stood on both sides of the route of road show and she waved at them.

CPI MP P Santosh Kumar has also written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alleging that Mr Modi violated the Model Code of Conduct through his recent address to the nation, and sought immediate intervention by the poll panel.

The CPI(M) also in a statement said, “The Prime Minister has misused the Doordarshan for political messaging through his broadcast on April 18, 2026, while the Model Code of Conduct is in force and elections to the State assemblies of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are nearing.”

In a letter dated April 19, Mr Kumar said the Prime Minister’s address, delivered at a time when the MCC is in force in five States, was “political in nature” and contained “partisan assertions” and “selective narratives” aimed at influencing public opinion on an issue under active political contestation. He further said the broadcast of the address on public platforms such as Doordarshan and Sansad TV amounted to misuse of State resources.

In Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin warned that the state’s progress would be affected if people vote for NDA in the upcoming Assembly elections. Addressing a poll rally in Tiruppur he said whenever the DMK implements a scheme, it invariably emerges as a landmark achievement. “The AIADMK and BJP have crippled this region’s industrial growth. Votes cast for NDA will become a stumbling block to Tamil Nadu’s progress and people must realise this.”

The Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that the AIADMK was “just a mask” for the BJP, which wants a partner in Tamil Nadu that would let it rule the State from Delhi.

On the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Tamil Nadu government on Sunday posted IPS officer Avinash Kumar as the Inspector-General of Police, Intelligence, replacing Senthilvelan. The posting was made just a few days ahead of the April 23 Assembly election in the State.

Earlier in the day, the ECI directed the Tamil Nadu government’s Chief Secretary to post Mr Kumar as IG, Intelligence. It also said the officer transferred, Senthilvelan, was not to be posted in any election-related posts till the completion of elections.