West Bengal CM and All India Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee. Archive. | Photo credit: ANI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday (March 20, 2026) alleged that an “unofficial” and “self-declared” presidential government has been imposed in West Bengal.
“The President’s rule has been imposed in West Bengal. Modi ji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) has to hold elections in West Bengal under the President’s rule. It is a shame. They fear the people of Bengal so much. Although the Center has not spoken about it, their actions point to the reality,” Ms. Banerjee said while releasing her party’s manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal.
Reiterating his discontent over the transfer of State officials by the Election Commission, he asked how officials from other States foreign to the language, culture and geography of the State will conduct the elections. Recently, since the model code of conduct came into force, the Election Commission has transferred around 50 senior officials, including the Chief Secretary of the State, the Home Minister, the Director General of Police and about a dozen district magistrates and the Superintendent of Police.
Ms Banerjee claimed that the Center was planning to “take away citizenship from people” in the name of NRC (National Register of Citizens) and Census after the upcoming assembly elections in the state. He also said there were plans to divide West Bengal, creating a separate state that would encompass parts of north Bengal and Bihar. “They don’t want West Bengal to exist,” he said.
Ms. Banerjee expressed fear that the judicial allotment of around 60 lakh voters may not be completed before the elections.
“I have heard that only 22 lakh cases have been resolved so far, of which 10 lakh names have been removed,” he said. The Trinamool Congress said one community in particular had been targeted by the exercise and said it had knocked on all doors, from the judiciary to the Election Commission.
“The right to vote is the most important right,” he said, adding that the Election Commission is taking it away at the behest of the BJP.
Don’t look elsewhere if you want to save Bengal
The Trinamool Congress appealed to the state’s electorate not to look elsewhere if they want to save West Bengal. “This is not the time to look elsewhere if Bengal is to be saved,” he said.
Releasing her party’s manifesto, the Chief Minister, who is seeking to return to power for the fourth consecutive term, said the West Bengal Assembly elections were an opportunity “to save the country from the hands of Narendra Modi”.
He urged people not to accept money from the BJP and said they should give a befitting reply to the saffron party.
Ms. Banerjee claimed that thousands upon thousands of central forces will descend on West Bengal during the elections.
“Who will feed them? We are already facing a shortage of LPG cylinders,” he said. The Trinamool Congress president said she will start the campaign after Id-ul-Fitr, which will be celebrated on Saturday.
Read also | Protests, despondency and call for retirement after several Trinamool Congress MLAs lose ticket
The Trinamool Congress has already announced the list of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections. Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
Published – March 21, 2026 02:45 am IST
