Abhishek Banerjee Targets BJP Ahead of Bengal Polls, Frames Contest as ‘Remote Control vs Report Card’

Kolkata,April 2026 : Abhishek Banerjee, General Secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, portraying the political contest as a battle between two contrasting “RCs” — the BJP’s “remote control” and the TMC’s “report card.”

In a strongly worded post on X, Banerjee accused the BJP of using its so-called “remote control” to undermine West Bengal’s interests. He alleged that the Centre has deliberately withheld funds meant for the state and is attempting to manipulate the electoral process through mechanisms such as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which he claimed could disenfranchise genuine voters.

“On one side is the BJP’s RC — their remote control — which is being used to stop Bengal’s rightful funds, deprive real voters of their voting rights through SIR, spread chaos and communal disharmony, and misuse central agencies, central forces, and democratic institutions,” Banerjee stated.

He further accused the BJP of attempting to defame the people of Bengal by labeling them as “Rohingya” or “Bangladeshi,” and of harassing migrant workers. According to him, the party has repeatedly disrespected Bengal’s culture, traditions, food habits, and iconic personalities. Banerjee also alleged that the BJP amplifies misinformation aggressively but remains silent when the state’s interests and identity are under threat.

“Their remote control uses loudspeakers to amplify lies, but when Bengal’s sovereignty and interests are at stake, it falls completely silent,” he added.

Contrasting this with TMC’s governance, Banerjee highlighted what he described as the party’s “report card” — a record of 15 years of development achieved despite what he termed a lack of support from the central government. He said the TMC’s performance reflects fulfilled promises, completed projects, and improved lives across the state.

“On the other side is the Trinamool Congress’s RC — our report card. Fifteen remarkable years of ‘Unnayan’ (development) without any help from the Centre. A record of work done, promises delivered, dreams realized, and lives transformed,” he wrote.

Banerjee pointed to a series of recent campaign events as evidence of growing public support for the TMC. He cited large gatherings and roadshows held in regions such as Jangipur, Domkal, Harishchandrapur, Chanchal, and Siliguri in support of party candidates, asserting that these demonstrated the जनता’s continued trust in the party.

Declaring that “the era of remote control politics is over,” Banerjee took a swipe at what he described as “Delhi-based landlords” attempting to dictate Bengal’s future from afar. He asserted that the people of the state would decide their own destiny with pride and determination, backing the TMC’s symbol of “Jora Phool.”

“This land has moved beyond remote control politics. Those sitting in Delhi may keep pressing buttons, but Bengal will decide its own future — with pride, resolve, and in favour of Jora Phool,” he said.

The upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections are expected to witness a fierce contest primarily between the TMC and the BJP, with other political players also trying to make their presence felt. Voting for the 294-member विधानसभा will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.

In the previous Assembly elections held in 2021, the TMC secured a decisive victory by winning 213 seats, despite a strong challenge from the BJP, which improved its tally to 77 seats. Meanwhile, traditional players such as the Congress and the Left Front failed to open their account, highlighting the bipolar nature of the state’s political landscape.

As campaigning intensifies, Banerjee’s remarks underline the sharp political divide and set the tone for what is shaping up to be another high-stakes electoral battle in West Bengal.