Assembly Elections Highlights: Mamata Banerjee to meet Election Commission in Delhi

Amit Shah claimed that the BJP would form the next government in West Bengal and hand over land required by the BSF within 45 days. Referring to a High Court directive, he alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government was not cooperating. Shah said infiltration would be stopped and illegal migrants identified once the BJP came to power.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that infiltration through West Bengal’s borders has become a matter of national security. Speaking in Bagdogra, he accused the Trinamool Congress government of allowing illegal immigration. Drawing comparisons with BJP-ruled states, Shah claimed infiltration had reduced where the party was in power and called for a change in government in Bengal.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to leave for Delhi on Sunday afternoon and will meet the Chief Election Commissioner on Monday. She will be accompanied by a 15-member delegation. The meeting is expected to focus on election-related issues, including voter list revision and administrative concerns, as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma launched a sharp attack on Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of supporting illegal Bangladeshi migrants. He claimed they were unconcerned about local Assamese people and said the current situation was critical for the state’s identity and existence. Sarma asserted that Congress leaders would not be able to influence Assam’s political future.

Congress Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Choodankar is scheduled to arrive in Chennai on Saturday to hold an election-related meeting with party leaders. The discussions are expected to focus on organisational strengthening, alliance coordination, and booth-level preparations ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. The visit signals the party’s effort to intensify groundwork and streamline its strategy in the state.

Political observers note that former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s prolonged silence on key alliance and leadership issues has weakened his position within AIADMK. Party insiders believe the lack of clear political messaging has affected his influence. As election preparations intensify, OPS’s absence from major debates is being viewed as a strategic disadvantage.

DMK MP Kanimozhi criticised the BJP’s political strategy in Tamil Nadu, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Kanyakumari. She termed it a “publicity stunt” and said such symbolic gestures would not influence voters. She added that the BJP continues to focus on optics rather than addressing the state’s financial and developmental concerns.

Addressing reports of tensions within the DMK-Congress alliance, Kanimozhi said seat-sharing discussions are routine in coalition politics. She stressed that both parties have contested several elections together and remain committed partners. She accused AIADMK leaders of raising the issue to divert attention from instability within their own alliance.

DMK MP Kanimozhi Somasundaram alleged that the Union government has consistently discriminated against Tamil Nadu and other southern states. She said funds for flood relief, health, education, and GST compensation have been delayed. Speaking on the upcoming Union Budget, she said the state does not expect special treatment but wants fair devolution of funds.

Reacting to AIADMK’s announcement to double financial assistance for women, DMK leaders accused the opposition of copying their welfare model. They pointed out that the DMK currently provides Rs 1,000 per month to around 1.30 crore women. Leaders recalled that AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami had earlier criticised the scheme before adopting a similar approach.

In an exclusive interaction, DMK MLA Ezhilan Naganathan said the party’s upcoming manifesto would reflect its governance record. He noted that out of 505 promises made earlier, over 400 were fulfilled. On AIADMK’s promise to double financial assistance for women, he said the scheme was originally introduced by DMK and is now being replicated by its rivals.

DMK leaders have reiterated that several welfare and infrastructure promises remained incomplete due to a lack of support from the Union government. They cited delays in approving key proposals and insufficient fund allocation.

The party said issues such as the NEET ban and metro projects were stalled at the Centre’s level, accusing the BJP-led government of obstructing Tamil Nadu’s development.

The DMK has announced a new public outreach campaign titled ‘Tamil Nadu Thalai Vanangadhu’ (Tamil Nadu will not bow down) ahead of the Assembly elections. The campaign aims to explain to voters why some manifesto promises could not be fulfilled. Party leaders said non-cooperation from the Union government affected projects such as the NEET ban and metro rail plans in Coimbatore and Madurai.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday called for an impartial judicial inquiry into the deadly Anandpur warehouse fire in West Bengal, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of shielding the guilty.

"Today, from here, I am demanding that the Chief Minister of Bengal conduct an impartial, judicial inquiry into this incident, and that those responsible be put behind bars. Suvendu Adhikari and Samik Bhattacharya went to meet the families of the victims. Our workers protested, and the police brutalised them. Anandpur warehouse fire is shouting that Mamata Banerjee's people are involved," the Union Home Minister said. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress of corruption in the wake of the deadly Anandpur warehouse fire near Kolkata. The corruption of Mamata Banerjee's party and government can no longer be hidden. 

"The corruption of Mamata Banerjee's party and government can no longer be hidden. The Anandpur warehouse fire is shouting that Mamata Banerjee's people are involved... If Mamata Banerjee wants to cover it up, but after April, when the BJP government comes, we will selectively put the culprits of this fire behind bars," he said. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday described forming a BJP government in West Bengal as vital not only for the state but for the country, citing concerns over national security.

"Forming a new government in Bengal is not only important for the state but for the country. The infiltration bid from Bengal is a national security threat for the nation. Mamata Banerjee always blames Centre for infiltration. However, we have time and again reiterated that the Triamool government do not provide us land to erect fencing in the border with Bangladesh," he alleged. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday expressed confidence that the BJP would secure more than 50 per cent votes in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, reaffirming the party’s ambition to form the next state government.

Addressing party workers, Shah said, "After Bihar, Bengal will be next. The BJP is ready to take charge and deliver good governance to the people of the state".