KOLKATA: Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, alleging that the party was fielding "rejected elements" from other parties for the Assembly polls.
Addressing an election rally at Taldangra in West Bengal's Bankura district, the TMC national general secretary said, "Keeping the BJP is like living with an ulcer, removing it is like curing cancer," urging voters to reject the saffron party.
Banerjee claimed that individuals discarded by the TMC were being elevated to key positions by the BJP.
"We discard rotten, rejected elements, but the BJP picks them up and gives them important posts," he said, in an apparent reference to turncoats who joined the saffron party after leaving the TMC since the 2021 Assembly elections.
Without naming BJP's Taldangra nominee Souvik Patra, Banerjee claimed that the candidate has multiple complaints registered against him and was previously associated with the TMC's student wing before being removed.
Banerjee further claimed that the aspirant faced allegations of misconduct, contrasting him with TMC candidate Falguni Singha Babu, whom he described as an "honest, clean and capable" individual within the TMC.
"You all know Falguni Singha. For the past one-and-a-half years, he has served as the MLA of Taldangra. Since 2018, he has taken on various organisational roles --becoming Youth TMC president of Simlapal block in 2020 and block president in 2025. Today, with your support, he serves as your MLA," Banerjee said.
"On the other hand, the BJP candidate was expelled from the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad. He joined the BJP in 2016 and has multiple FIRs against him," he claimed.
"They cannot even find proper candidates. They have again fielded someone we expelled. On one side is a teacher, and on the other is someone facing multiple allegations. The choice is yours."
Stepping up his attack on the Centre, Banerjee accused the BJP of depriving West Bengal of its rightful dues over the past five years.
Highlighting development promises, Banerjee said that a bridge over Shilabati river and a super-speciality hospital would be constructed in Taldangra.
"We have been in power in West Bengal for 15 years, and our chief minister delivers on every promise. The BJP, which has been in power at the Centre for 12 years, should present its report card. What about their promise of Rs 14 lakh in every bank account that Modi ji made during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls?" he said.
"Let there be a debate where I will face BJP leaders, with both sides presenting their report cards," Banerjee added.
Reiterating confidence in the party's prospects, he maintained that the TMC was poised to win the seat.
Banerjee also highlighted key promises in the TMC's manifesto for the Assembly elections, including piped water supply to every household, block-level health camps and universal old-age pension for residents above 60 years, irrespective of central funding.
"After forming the government for a fourth term, we will set up health camps at every block level to ensure medical facilities reach people's doorsteps," he said.
He added that all residents of the state aged 60 years and above would be provided with an old-age pension.
"The BJP is in power in 15 states. I challenge them -- implement even one scheme like Mamata Banerjee's Lakshmir Bhandar in any state. If they can, we will withdraw all our candidates. As long as our government remains, women in Bengal will continue to receive Lakshmir Bhandar," Banerjee said.
On the LPG issue, he said, "Before and after the Modi government, look at the difference. LPG prices have risen from Rs 400 to Rs 1,000, milk from Rs 28 to over Rs 60, platform tickets from Rs 5 to Rs 30, kerosene from Rs 14 to Rs 40, and prices of tomatoes have doubled."
"On one hand, Modi is looting you; on the other, Mamata Banerjee is supporting you," he said.
The elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases - on April 23 and 29.
Votes will be counted on May 4.