‘Undeclared President’s Rule’: Mamata Banerjee’s Sharp Attack on BJP Before Bengal Polls

Following the release of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) manifesto for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that its plans for the state are “fundamentally flawed.” Mamata Banerjee raised concerns over a possible delimitation exercise by the Election Commission of India. While no official announcement has been made, she claimed that such a move, along with certain Central schemes, could be part of a broader strategy to “limit the voting power” of West Bengal’s electorate. The Chief Minister also accused the Central Government of overreach, alleging that state personnel—including ration shop managers—are being requisitioned for election duties without legal mandate. According to her, the involvement of such personnel could disrupt the “smoothness” of the electoral process. “If there is any problem with elections this year, it is the fault of the BJP government,” Banerjee said, placing responsibility for any potential logistical issues squarely on the Centre. Escalating her criticism, Banerjee described the current political situation as akin to an “undeclared President’s Rule.” She alleged that the Central Government is attempting to assert administrative control in the run-up to the elections to influence voter sentiment. She further accused the BJP of pursuing divisive politics and failing on governance, pointing to long queues for essential services as indicative of systemic inefficiencies. Mamata Banerjee expressed confidence that the current Central leadership would soon be voted out of power, highlighting the intensity of the political contest as West Bengal heads into the 2026 Assembly elections.