Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has sparked fresh political friction within the opposition’s INDIA bloc by alleging a “secret understanding” between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, the Congress, and the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The remarks come at a crucial time, with assembly elections approaching in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. Mamata’s comments have unsettled the opposition alliance, which comprises 28 anti-BJP parties including the Congress, DMK, and Left parties.
Addressing an election rally in Nakashipara, Mamata raised concerns over the alleged nexus, suggesting that recent administrative decisions point toward bias. She questioned the transfer of several senior IAS and IPS officers from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu, hinting at an unusual proximity between the poll body and the southern state.
Political observers note that her allegations gain weight in the backdrop of her repeated claims that the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bengal is being conducted under pressure from the BJP-led Centre, potentially leading to large scale voter deletions.
This marks the second consecutive day that Mamata has flagged the issue. A day earlier, at a rally in Samserganj, she had raised similar concerns without naming Stalin directly. However, her decision to explicitly mention the DMK leader in Nadia has amplified the controversy and exposed cracks within the alliance.
Interestingly, Mamata and Stalin have historically maintained cordial relations within the INDIA bloc, with both leaders occasionally being floated as potential faces of opposition unity. Her latest remarks, therefore, are being viewed as a significant departure from that equation.
Separately, Mamata also launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of silence over reported threats from Pakistan targeting Kolkata. Referring to his recent rally in Cooch Behar, she questioned his priorities and demanded his resignation, further intensifying the political pitch ahead of the elections.