PM accused of misusing government machinery for political campaigns: Mamata

 Political Allegations Over Campaign Conduct in West Bengal

PTI, TARAKESWAR/KALNA (WB), APRIL 19, 2026 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "misusing" government machinery for political campaigns. Addressing a poll rally in Hooghly district's Tarakeswar, Banerjee alleged that Modi indulged in "illegal campaign" for the BJP through his address to the nation regarding the women's quota bill.

"They (BJP) misused the government machinery yesterday for political campaigns. We condemn this and will file a complaint (to the Election Commission)," she said, accusing the PM of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

In an address to the nation on Saturday, a day after a bill to implement 33 per cent women's reservation in legislatures from 2029 was defeated in the Lok Sabha, Modi warned the Congress and its allies that the women of India will severely punish them for "the sin of foeticide". Banerjee said, "You (PM) have to answer to the people of India as you did an illegal campaign for your party."

The TMC chief said that the women's reservation bill was passed in September 2023, and asked why the central government has not yet implemented it. Questioning how many times the "same bill needs to be passed," Banerjee claimed that the BJP-led government at the Centre linked the delimitation bill with the women's quota legislation tabled in the Lok Sabha.

"They had the audacity to bring the bill in the Lok Sabha despite not having the requisite numbers to pass it," she said, claiming that the BJP's "downfall" has started.

Criticising Modi for stating that he is the BJP's candidate in all 294 seats in the Bengal election, Banerjee said, "He is trying to emulate what I say." "You (PM) are not a voter in Bengal, you are an outsider," she said, asking him to resign as Prime Minister and then announce his candidature in the state's assembly polls.

Addressing another poll rally at Kalna in Purba Bardhaman district, Banerjee alleged that the BJP, if it comes to power, will take away all the welfare benefits introduced by the TMC government, such as 'Lakshmir Bhandar', 'Joy Johar' for the Adivasis or 'Oikyoshree' for the minorities.

One crore girls in the state get benefits under the Kanyashree programme, she said.

"The BJP had promised before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections that Rs 15 lakh would be transferred into every citizen's bank account. The party had pledged two crore jobs every year; instead, joblessness has risen by 40 per cent in the country under the BJP government," the TMC chief claimed.

Accusing the BJP of indulging in vindictive politics by using central agencies like the CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax department to intimidate TMC leaders, Banerjee threatened legal action, saying, "Nothing happens in one-sided manner."

The TMC chief also charged the BJP-led government at the Centre with trying to intimidate her by raiding the premises linked to her security officer. The ED on Sunday conducted raids at the premises of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas and a local businessman as part of a money laundering probe.

"I will not bow down even if a gun is pointed at me," she said. She said that with the 100-day job guarantee scheme operational, they can get work in the state.

"Around 1.5 crore people from other states work in Bengal, you (migrant workers) can do that work," the chief minister said.

Banerjee said that around four crore youths from the minority community have received scholarships under the 'Oikyoshree' scheme.

In a bid to woo voters from the minority community, Banerjee said, "The Waqf Amendment Act was brought by the BJP government, not by us. No Waqf property will go into anyone's hands."