West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of overstepping his role and warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi against placing unwavering trust in his close aide. Drawing a stark historical parallel, Banerjee likened Shah to ‘Mir Jafar’, the infamous 18th-century general who treacherously sided with British forces against his own Nawab during the Battle of Plassey, potentially spelling doom for Modi's leadership.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said this, moments after returning from a firsthand assessment of flood-devastated regions in north Bengal. "He operates as if he's the acting Prime Minister of the nation," Banerjee declared, and “further added “The Prime Minister is fully aware of the dynamics at play. But I must urge him: Do not put blind faith in Amit Shah. One day, he could turn into your Mir Jafar. Take action now, morning shows the day”
The invocation of Mir Jafar, a symbol of disloyalty in Indian political lexicon, was not lost on observers. It evokes the pivotal 1757 betrayal that paved the way for colonial dominance in Bengal, framing Shah's influence as a looming threat to Modi's authority within the BJP.
Banerjee's outburst was triggered by the Election Commission of India's (ECI) recent announcement of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls nationwide, including in West Bengal – a process she branded as Shah's "personal ploy" to manipulate democratic processes. Slamming the 15-day timeline as impractical and insensitive, she highlighted the state's dire circumstances: relentless floods, incessant rains, and upcoming festivals that have already strained administrative resources.
"How can we possibly overhaul electoral lists in just two weeks under these conditions?" she questioned, emphasising the chaos in flood-hit areas where basic survival takes precedence over paperwork. "This isn't governance; it's a dictatorial overreach designed to erase names and tilt the scales. The ECI must serve democracy, not party agendas."
Her criticisms extended beyond elections to the Centre's tepid response to Bengal's flood emergency. Banerjee recounted her two-day tour of submerged districts, where she distributed aid and inspected damaged infrastructure. She accused the BJP of systemic neglect, pointing to inadequate central funding and delayed relief packages that have left thousands in limbo.
"I've witnessed regimes come and go over decades, but none as arrogant and high-handed as this one. They have not allocated any fund for Bengal floods in their budget. But now they are behaving like they are the only messiah. Power isn't eternal. History teaches us that much."
The remarks come at a charged moment for Indian politics. With assembly polls on the horizon and the SIR set to scrutinise over 10 crore voters, Banerjee's words indicate deepening showdown between Kolkata and New Delhi.
