Mamata Banerjee Accuses BJP of Misusing Central Forces

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress candidate from Bhabanipur, Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using Central Forces to intimidate voters and influence the polling process during the ongoing Assembly elections.

Launching a strong political attack, Banerjee alleged that security personnel were acting under instructions from the BJP and claimed that intimidation tactics were being used in several parts of the state to obstruct free and fair voting.

She alleged that incidents of coercion were reported overnight and accused the BJP leadership of orchestrating pressure tactics during the election process.

Claims of Direct Intervention by BJP Leadership

Escalating her criticism, the Chief Minister alleged that there was direct intervention from the highest levels of the central leadership, claiming that the election process was being influenced from the top.

According to Banerjee, instructions were being issued to security forces to manage the polling atmosphere in a way that favoured the BJP, with incidents allegedly reported from multiple districts, including Malda.

Her remarks added a new layer of political tension to an already fiercely contested election battle in West Bengal.

Allegation of Minority Voter Harassment

Banerjee also claimed that an elderly voter from the minority community was mistreated by security personnel while attempting to cast his vote.

She alleged that the man was assaulted and turned away from the polling booth over his attire, describing the incident as an example of targeted harassment meant to discourage voters.

The Trinamool Congress chief said the incident deeply reflected the hostile environment allegedly created around polling booths.

TMC Claims Voting Was Deliberately Slowed

The Chief Minister further alleged that voting in Bhabanipur and other constituencies was deliberately slowed down to create long queues and discourage people from participating in the election.

According to her, the slow pace of polling was part of a wider strategy to suppress voter turnout in key constituencies.

The allegation comes amid heightened scrutiny over polling arrangements in several urban centres across the state.

Accusations of Booth-Level Manipulation

Banerjee also alleged that BJP supporters were being positioned inside polling booths while Central Forces blocked media access and surveillance.

She claimed that the heavy presence of security personnel outside booths was being used to shield irregularities from public view, raising questions over the transparency of the polling process.