Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, has asked voters to abstain from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), calling it a “divisive and communal” organization.
Banerjee criticized the BJP at a gathering in Cooch Behar for attempting to create splits among West Bengalis based on caste and religion. Instead of promoting progress and development, she charged the party with fostering hatred and violence. Banerjee additionally cautioned that the BJP’s victory would exacerbate racial tensions and violence in the state.
The upcoming elections, scheduled to be held in eight phases starting on March 27, are expected to be fiercely contested. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Banerjee, is seeking a third consecutive term in office, while the BJP is hoping to make significant gains in the state.
Banerjee’s appeal to voters not to vote for the BJP is likely to intensify the political battle in the state, with both parties pulling out all the stops to secure a victory.
Banerjee has been a strong opponent of the BJP and has said that the party is attempting to sabotage West Bengal’s peaceful coexistence of many cultures. Banerjee’s cautions about the risks of choosing the party are anticipated to become a hot topic in the elections as the BJP intensifies its campaign in the state.
The TMC and the BJP have been fighting a nasty verbal battle, and it is anticipated that their contest in the forthcoming elections would be tight.