West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of striking a ₹1,000-crore deal to unseat her government, triggering a major political confrontation ahead of the state elections. Her remarks came during a series of rallies across Bankura and surrounding districts, where she intensified her attacks on the opposition.
The controversy stems from a viral video involving Humayun Kabir, chief of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, in which he allegedly claims links with BJP leaders and references large payments tied to a plan to split minority votes. While the authenticity of the video has not been independently verified, Banerjee argued that conflicting reactions to the clip, including claims that it was AI-generated, were contradicted by the individual seen in it, who had reportedly acknowledged its validity at different points.
In her speeches, Banerjee alleged that the BJP is not only attempting to engineer political defections but is also engaging in a broader strategy to manipulate public opinion and electoral outcomes. She accused the party of spreading misinformation and using fabricated or edited digital content to influence voters, escalating tensions over the role of artificial intelligence in political campaigning.
The Chief Minister further claimed that the BJP is targeting minority communities to fragment votes and exerting pressure on candidates and ministers to shift allegiance ahead of the election outcome. She asserted that such tactics were part of a coordinated attempt to weaken the ruling Trinamool Congress and secure a majority in the state assembly.
Banerjee also raised concerns about potential future administrative actions, alleging that the BJP could pursue delimitation exercises and implement the National Register of Citizens process in West Bengal if it came to power. She referenced past developments in Assam, warning that large-scale deletions of names from voter lists could be replicated in the state, affecting citizens’ rights.
Addressing large public gatherings, she urged voters to remain vigilant against what she described as attempts to manipulate elections, including claims of irregularities involving central forces, voter intimidation, and misinformation around polling procedures. She also alleged bias in rally permissions and accused the opposition of using state institutions to gain electoral advantage.
The BJP, meanwhile, has accused the ruling party of manufacturing fake narratives and relying on manipulated media content, further deepening the war of words between the two sides. As campaigning intensifies, both parties continue to trade accusations over corruption, voter influence, and the integrity of the electoral process.
