Mamata Banerjee Alleges Vehicle Check by Central Forces, Urges Voters to Respond Democratically

PTI, April 15, 2026, Kolkata: A day after the TMC alleged that the Election Commission had ordered 'intrusive checks' of vehicles of its leaders, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed that Central forces tried to search her car when she was travelling to Kolkata airport earlier in the day.

Addressing a poll rally here in Uttar Dinajpur district, Mamata said if the Central forces have the guts, they can check her car every day.

"Central forces tried to check my car when I was going to the Kolkata airport today. If you have the guts, you check my car every day," she said.

The TMC had on Tuesday alleged that only its leaders, specifically Abhishek Banerjee, have been "singled out for intrusive checks" of their vehicles by security personnel deputed for the West Bengal Assembly elections, based on "targeted instructions" from the poll panel.

"Why are only TMC leaders being singled out for such intrusive checks while others are spared? This is a clear case of selective targeting," the ruling party's state general secretary Kunal Ghosh had said.

There was no immediate response from the Election Commission to the TMC's allegations.

On the occasion of Bengali New Year, the Chief Minister extended 'Poila Boishakh' greetings to people and urged the electorate to give a befitting reply to the attempts by the "zamindars in Delhi" to snatch people's voting rights.

In a post on X, she expressed hope the Bengali New Year would make people's lives "free of blemishes". She also highlighted Bengal's cultural legacy, adding that the state stands as a symbol of communal harmony.

The incumbent Chief Minister alleged that some "malevolent forces" were attempting to tarnish this harmony, and accused "Delhi's zamindars" of trying to usurp people's voting rights.

"Remember, we must give a befitting reply to them democratically," Mamata said in the X post.

Calling for unity, she urged people to vow to break down the "walls of narrow-mindedness" and remain united against divisive and authoritarian forces. She also appealed to voters to uphold their democratic rights in the forthcoming Assembly elections by voting for the Trinamool Congress.