Mamata Banerjee again accused the Election Commission of helping BJP win the West Bengal Assembly elections, alleging EVM manipulation, voter exclusion, data hacking, and political intimidation. She also targeted Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari over Bhabanipur results and post-election violence claims.
Fresh political tensions erupted in West Bengal on Sunday as former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee once again questioned the credibility of the recently concluded Assembly elections, alleging that the electoral process was manipulated to ensure victory for the BJP.
Speaking publicly for the first time in detail since the declaration of results nearly three weeks ago, the Trinamool Congress leader claimed that her party had not genuinely lost the election and accused the Election Commission of facilitating the BJP’s rise to power in the state. She also alleged that her defeat in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency was “forced” and demanded a forensic examination of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Her remarks came on the same day the results of the Falta Assembly by-election were announced. During her address, Mamata Banerjee launched a direct attack on Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, questioning the legitimacy of his victory in Bhabanipur.
“How did you win in Bhabanipur? I will explain that in court,” she said, while demanding an EVM forensic report. According to her, the electoral process in West Bengal lacked transparency and fairness, which she described as a “farce.”
The Trinamool Congress supremo also accused the BJP government of unleashing political intimidation after assuming power in the state. She alleged that thousands of Trinamool Congress offices had been looted or occupied and that party leaders, councillors, and workers were being arrested under political pressure.
Mamata Banerjee claimed that nearly 2,500 party offices had been seized allegedly in the presence of police authorities. She further alleged that administrative institutions and civic bodies, including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, were facing disruptions in developmental activities such as water supply projects, road maintenance, and other public services.
Referring to the post-election situation, she alleged that several Trinamool workers and supporters had become victims of what she described as “state terrorism.” According to her, around a dozen people had died in politically linked incidents, while others were allegedly pressured into resigning from elected positions.
Criticising the functioning of the administration under the BJP government, Mamata Banerjee said her government had never used police forces in such a manner when the Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011. She alleged that opposition meetings were now being obstructed and that elected councillors were being arrested regularly.
The former Chief Minister also made serious allegations regarding the conduct of the Assembly elections. She claimed that nearly 60 lakh voters’ names were initially excluded from electoral rolls. According to her, the Trinamool Congress managed to restore 32 lakh names after protests, but millions of eligible voters still remained unable to cast their votes.
She further alleged that “data hacking” had taken place from the office of the Central Election Commission and claimed that BJP supporters entered counting centres wearing uniforms resembling those of the CRPF. However, no official evidence supporting these allegations was presented during her speech.
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Mamata Banerjee concluded by accusing the BJP leadership of attempting to undermine Bengal’s democratic structure and livelihoods after coming to power. Her statements are expected to intensify the already heated political confrontation between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP in West Bengal following the Assembly election results.
