West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of striking a “₹1,000-crore deal” to unseat her party, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Addressing a rally in Bankura’s Onda, Banerjee cited a viral video allegedly showing Humayun Kabir, chief of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, claiming links with BJP leaders and referring to a ₹200-crore advance as part of a larger arrangement to influence minority votes. However, the authenticity of the video has not been independently verified.
“If it is AI-generated, then why is the person concerned admitting to it? Why are you suddenly defending him?” Banerjee asked, adding, “They have struck a ₹1,000-crore deal to remove the TMC from power.”
Confusion Over Video’s Authenticity
The controversy deepened after Kabir issued contradictory statements. He initially described the clip as AI-generated, but later claimed that only a portion of a longer video had been shared “without context,” and said the full version would be released.
The BJP has dismissed the allegations, with some leaders calling the video fake and politically motivated.
War of Words With Prime Minister Modi
Banerjee’s remarks came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the TMC of using AI-generated content to mislead voters due to “fear of defeat.”
Escalating her attack, Banerjee accused the BJP of trying to polarise voters along religious lines. “They are misleading both Hindus and Muslims. Their character changes like a chameleon,” she said during rallies across Bankura and nearby districts.
Allegations of Political Pressure and Electoral Manipulation
The Chief Minister further alleged that BJP leaders were pressuring TMC candidates, including ministers, to switch sides if the party falls short of the majority mark in the 294-member Assembly.
She also warned of potential policy moves if the BJP comes to power, including the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and delimitation. Referring to the NRC exercise in Assam, she said, “Lakhs of names were deleted there. The same can happen in Bengal.”
In a controversial claim, Banerjee alleged that there were plans to redraw state boundaries. “They may divide West Bengal into three parts. I don’t know, they may even merge parts with Bihar or Odisha,” she said.
Claims of Administrative Bias and Security Concerns
Banerjee also accused authorities of bias in granting permissions for political events, claiming her rally was denied clearance while the Prime Minister’s event was approved quickly.
She raised concerns about alleged misconduct by central forces during election duty and called for immediate legal action in such cases. “Any such misconduct should be met with FIRs,” she said.
Criticism of Electoral Roll Revision
Calling the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls the “biggest scam in recent times,” Banerjee alleged that the BJP was trying to manipulate the electoral process.
“The BJP bribes voters before elections but forgets promises afterward,” she said, also questioning the Centre’s job creation claims.
She urged voters to remain vigilant during polling. “Be alert about voting machines. They may show early trends in favour of BJP, but do not believe it,” she told supporters, expressing confidence that the TMC would retain power.
Public Safety Warning at Rallies
In a separate advisory, Banerjee cautioned people attending political gatherings to be careful about food and drinks. Her warning came after an incident in Jhargram where several people reportedly fell ill after consuming a substance they mistook for ORS.
“Do not consume anything given by strangers. Always check before eating,” she said.
