‘Trying to bring in voters from other states:’ Abhishek Banerjee targets BJP with ‘outsider’ plank in North Bengal rallies

Trinamool Congress MP and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday intensified the party’s “outsider” pitch while addressing rallies in North and South Dinajpur, as the ruling party eyes a fourth straight term in West Bengal. Alongside his criticism of the BJP, he highlighted the state government’s welfare initiatives led by Mamata Banerjee.

In the previous 2021 Assembly elections, Trinamool and the BJP had split South Dinajpur evenly with three seats each, while in North Dinajpur, Trinamool secured seven seats compared to BJP’s two.

Speaking at a rally in Balurghat, Abhishek alleged that the BJP was attempting to influence the state’s electoral process and governance. “The BJP is trying to include names of people from other states as voters in Bengal. Also, if it is voted to power, BJP leaders sitting in Delhi will dictate all activities of Bengal,” he said.

He further criticised BJP MPs from Bengal, accusing them of failing to stand up for the state when central funds were withheld. “Over the past few years, we have seen how the BJP MPs elected from this state have remained mute despite the Centre freezing financial grants for Bengal. They do not have the authority to make a single move without approval from Delhi leaders. Outsiders will rule Bengal then,” he added.

The Trinamool leadership has repeatedly invoked Bengali identity and pride in recent months, accusing the BJP of promoting “outsider” politics, while also pointing to alleged harassment faced by migrant workers from Bengal in BJP-ruled states.

At both Balurghat and Karandighi in North Dinajpur, Abhishek also underlined key welfare schemes such as Lakshmir Bhandar and made fresh promises for the region.

He announced that if Trinamool returns to power, four cold storage facilities — two in each district — would be set up to support farmers.

“I am here with my report card on what the state has done, and I challenge (BJP leader) Sukanta Majumdar to present their report card,” he said, targeting Sukanta Majumdar, the BJP MP from Balurghat and Union minister of state for education.

In Karandighi, he also attacked BJP candidate Biraj Biswas, alleging links to illegal activities. “The BJP candidate contesting here is associated with drug and liquor smuggling. You should give a second thought before voting for him,” he said.

BJP quickly responded, with Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar launching a sharp personal attack on Abhishek. “He (Abhishek) has landed in politics by a parachute and is behaving like the spoilt son of a rich parent. Any booth-level leader of our party is more eligible than him,” Majumdar said at a press meet in Siliguri.

Majumdar also accused the Mamata Banerjee government of neglecting north Bengal in budget allocations. “If the state's total budget is ₹100, north Bengal's share should be ₹18, as at least 18 per cent of Bengal’s population lives here. But budgetary allocations of the Trinamool government show the allocation is only around 23 paisa,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, BJP’s Karandighi candidate Biraj Biswas countered the allegations, suggesting that scrutiny should instead be directed at the Trinamool camp.​