The Bharatiya Janata Party has criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a party leader saying such statements make her unfit to hold a constitutional post.

The controversy began after Mamata Banerjee, while addressing an Eid gathering in Kolkata, criticised the prime minister’s policies and accused him of targeting minorities. During her speech, she also accused the prime minister of calling certain people infiltrators and alleged that names were being deleted.

Reacting to the remarks, BJP leader Shishir Bajoria said that anyone who calls the prime minister an infiltrator does not have the right to occupy a constitutional position. He also alleged that the chief minister’s comments reflected fear of losing the upcoming election.

The BJP has been raising the issue of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections and has accused the Trinamool Congress government of allowing infiltration. The Trinamool Congress has rejected the allegations, stating that border security is controlled by central forces under the Union Home Ministry.

At the Eid event in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee was joined by Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The Trinamool leadership also criticised the Election Commission’s special intensive revision exercise, alleging that it targets certain communities.

Abhishek Banerjee said that while political narratives are being built around religion, the real issue is that the entire country is in danger and people should not view issues only through a religious lens.

The political exchange comes amid rising tensions between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress ahead of the state elections, with both parties accusing each other over issues related to infiltration, minority rights and voter lists.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sharply criticised the Election Commission of India over the transfer of senior state officials ahead of the assembly elections, alleging bias and procedural overreach.

In a strongly worded letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee expressed “deep shock” at the poll panel’s functioning, stating that it had “crossed all boundaries of decency and constitutional propriety.”

Concerns over transfers and alleged bias

The chief minister objected to what she described as “unilateral” transfers of key officials, including the chief secretary, home secretary, director general of police, and several district-level officers. According to her, these decisions were taken without citing any violations of electoral rules or the Model Code of Conduct.

Banerjee further alleged that the Commission had shown “apparent bias” since the beginning of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, claiming that repeated concerns raised by the state government had been ignored.

She also questioned the timing of the transfers, noting that district election officers were shifted during an ongoing revision process, which she suggested could affect administrative continuity and pending cases.

Supreme Court reference and governance concerns

Referring to her government’s move to approach the Supreme Court of India, Banerjee said the court had acknowledged the concerns and issued directions that are currently being implemented.

The chief minister warned that the removal of senior officials at short notice could disrupt governance, law and order, and disaster preparedness, particularly during the storm-prone months of March and April.

She also criticised the deployment of state police officers as observers in other poll-bound regions, calling it “arbitrary” and a “misuse of authority.”

Warning on federal structure and democracy

Describing the decisions as “biased, hasty and unilateral,” Banerjee said such actions undermine cooperative federalism and could create conditions resembling “indirect central rule.”

She urged the Commission to reconsider its decisions, warning that such steps are “deeply concerning” for a healthy democratic process.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly are scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting set for May 4.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, firming up its strategy alongside National Democratic Alliance partners as campaigning gathers pace in the state.

Under the agreement, the BJP will contest 89 seats, while its allies — Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front — will field candidates in 26 and 11 constituencies respectively. The distribution has been decided after internal deliberations, with the focus now shifting to candidate announcements and campaign execution.

Campaign push led by top leadership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address three rallies in Assam during the final leg of the campaign. Tentative dates for the rallies are April 1, April 3 and April 6, with events likely to be held in key constituencies.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also set to spearhead an extensive campaign across the state through March, aiming to energise party workers and strengthen voter outreach.

Candidate selection underway

The party’s Central Election Committee is currently meeting to finalise candidates. Sources indicate that approvals for most constituencies are expected soon, and the BJP may release its complete list of candidates within the next two days.

Ticket distribution remains a crucial exercise, with internal discussions highlighting its potential impact on local political dynamics. Party leaders have also touched upon the proposed delimitation exercise scheduled for 2027, which is expected to have long-term implications for Assam’s electoral landscape.

Polling and counting dates

Voting for all 126 Assembly seats in Assam is scheduled for April 9, while the votes will be counted on May 4.