West Bengal elections: Trinamool will return to power again, says Mamata Banerjee
ET Bureau April 22, 2026 05:19 AM
Synopsis

Mamata Banerjee asserts Trinamool Congress will secure a fourth term in West Bengal. She calls for opposition unity to unseat the BJP government at the Centre. Banerjee criticizes Prime Minister Modi and alleges manipulation in past elections. She expresses confidence that people do not want the BJP in power.

Urges all Opposition parties to come together to oust BJP-led central government
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said Trinamool Congress will return to power in Bengal for the fourth consecutive term and claimed that "no one wants BJP to form the government". She urged all Opposition parties to come together to oust BJP-led NDA government from the Centre.

"BJP will not win elections in West Bengal this time. Trinamool Congress will again form the government. We will oust BJP from Delhi in 2026," Banerjee said while speaking at a poll rally in Purba Medinipur district's Haldia.

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Banerjee said "gaddar", which means "betrayer"(after Suvendu Adhikari left Trinamool Congress, Banerjee refers to him as 'gaddar'), has made a list and these people are nabbed from Nandigram and Purba Midnapore in a bid to facilitate BJP in the polls.

Banerjee, who was defeated by Suvendu Adhikari in the 2021 assembly polls in Nandigram, alleged that during the last election, in Nandigram, manipulation was done. She spoke about EVMs being manipulated and how votes were looted.

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Banerjee, who has been extensively touring West Bengal over the last one month, said she understood what people want and it is clear that they don't want the BJP.

Banerjee also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for stating at a recent rally that he was the BJP candidate in all the 294 seats going to polls in West Bengal. "You have to quit the post of the prime minister first for that to happen," she said.

The assembly elections will be held in two phases -- on April 23 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
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