Political Temperature Rising in West Bengal with PM-CM Engaged in Heated Exchanges
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, May 29: With about a year to go for the West Bengal state Assembly elections, political temperatures soared in the state on Thursday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee engaging in a heated exchange.
Speaking at a rally in Alipurduar, a northern district of Bengal, Mr Modi launched a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, calling it ‘nirmam’ (cruel) and corrupt, and claiming that the people of the state are crying out for change. He criticised Banerjee’s government for the recent violence against Hindus in Murshidabad, women’s safety, and alleged corruption in state government jobs. The Chief Minister responded soon, expressing dismay at the political offensive while multi-party delegations, including one with her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, were abroad garnering support against cross-border terrorism.
Taking the PM’s attack head-on, Ms Banerjee termed his remarks shocking and said she did not expect him to be speaking like this when all-party delegations are visiting countries around the world to project unity and convey India’s message of zero tolerance for terrorism in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Ms Banerjee also threw down a challenge, daring the Prime Minister to hold the Bengal Assembly elections tomorrow, claiming that the people of the state are behind her and her party.
Accusing the Prime Minister of diverting attention from the BJP-led Centre’s failures, the TMC posed five ‘counter-questions’ in response to the PM’s remarks about crises allegedly affecting West Bengal. In a post on X, the party called upon PM Modi to first “fix the mess” in Manipur, which had witnessed severe law and order problems for over two years. “Modi ji listed 5 ‘Sankats’. Let’s talk facts,” the TMC said in its official X handle.
Coming to other posers, the party said, “Women’s safety? From Unnao to Hathras, @BJP4India’s track record is soaked in silence and shame.” “Youth hopelessness? Paper leaks, NEET scam, and 45% unemployment – BJP’s national gift to students,” the regional party said. “Corruption? Half your Cabinet is out on bail. Irony died a slow death,” the party said, turning the corruption charge towards the Modi cabinet. The party also reiterated the claim that “Bengal was denied MGNREGA and Awas Yojana funds due to your (Modi) government’s vendetta politics.”
“What Modi ji has said today, we are not only shocked but it is very saddening to hear this from our PM when our Opposition team is representing the country in the world. They are taking bold decisions to protect the country’s and national interests. We will protect our country always because it is our motherland.
“But is this the time for Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of this country [to say such a thing]? And in his presence, his leaders are saying they will do Operation Bengal like Operation Sindoor. I challenge them! If they have the guts, go for the elections tomorrow. We are ready and Bengal is ready. Please remember timing is a factor,” Banerjee said. Bengal is due for elections next year.
Banerjee accused PM Modi of resorting to the “business of sindoor,” referencing India’s Operation Sindoor against terror sites in Pakistan. Following this, The BJP leader Amit Malviya reacted sharply, sharing a clip in which Banerjee appeared to suggest the military campaign was a “small thing” and that there was no war. The BJP’s reaction came after Banerjee accused the Centre of using ‘Operation Sindoor’ for political mileage.
“Mamata Banerjee has now dismissed Operation Sindoor as merely a ‘business of sindoor’. This is her true face – mocking sacrifice, patriotism, and the courage of our armed forces,” Malviya posted on X.
Launching a blistering attack on the TMC government, Mr Modi said the State is “plagued” by violence, corruption and lawlessness, and asserted that people are now yearning for change from the “Nirmam sarkar” (cruel government). “Today, West Bengal is grappling with a series of crises. People don’t want ‘Nirmam Sarkar’. They want change and good governance. That is why the whole of Bengal is saying they don’t want cruelty and corruption anymore,” PM Modi said.
“First is the widespread violence and lawlessness that are tearing apart the fabric of society. Second is the growing sense of insecurity among mothers and sisters, compounded by horrific crimes committed against them,” he said. PM Modi said the third crisis in Bengal is the deepening despair among the youth, driven by rising unemployment and lack of opportunities, while the fourth is the “pervasive corruption” that is eroding public trust in the system.
“The fifth crisis stems from the self-serving politics of the ruling party, which is stripping the poor of their rightful entitlements. Incidents in Murshidabad and Malda are stark examples of the cruelty of the TMC government and its failure to maintain law and order,” he said.
Turning his guns on the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam, PM Modi accused the TMC of “ruining the future of thousands of teachers and their families” through rampant corruption and irregularities. “This is not just the destruction of a few thousand teachers, but the entire education system is deteriorating. Even now, the TMC refuses to admit its mistakes. Instead, they are blaming the courts and the judicial system,” he said.
He added that the youth, poor, and middle-class families of Bengal are bearing the brunt of this corruption and said the people of the state have now lost faith in the TMC government. The PM also expressed disappointment over the West Bengal Government’s absence from the recent Niti Aayog meeting, accusing the TMC of being more interested in politics than development.
“Whatever happened in Murshidabad and Malda was an example of the state government’s ruthlessness… In the name of appeasement, hooliganism was given a free hand. Imagine the horrific situation when the people of a party running the government identify and burn people’s houses, and the police remain mere spectators. I ask the poor people of Bengal, is this how a government runs? Here, the courts have to intervene in every issue. Otherwise, nothing gets resolved.
Hitting back, Ms Banerjee called the Prime Minister’s remarks shocking and accused him and the BJP of politicising Operation Sindoor. “I don’t want to comment on Operation Sindoor. But every woman should be given respect… If your heart is so clean, why have the terrorists (behind the attack in Pahalgam) not been caught so far?” she said.
Claiming that her government is a humane one and the policies of the BJP are divisive, Ms Banerjee alleged that the ruling party at the Centre fuels riots. “The Malda and Murshidabad riots occurred because of the BJP,” the Trinamool Congress chief claimed.
Throwing down the gauntlet to Prime Minister Modi and the BJP, Ms Banerjee dared them to hold elections in Bengal tomorrow. “I challenge them… If they have the courage, go for elections tomorrow. We are ready and Bengal is ready… The people of Bengal are with us. Please remember, timing is a factor,” she said.
