Kejriwal Accuses Modi of Institutional Takeover Ahead of West Bengal Elections
Kejriwal's Allegations Against Modi
As the West Bengal Assembly elections approach, Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, has leveled serious accusations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a post on X, Kejriwal questioned what would happen if Modi were to lose the elections despite allegedly taking control of all institutions and manipulating millions of votes. The elections for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are scheduled to take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the counting of votes set for May 4. The political atmosphere in the state remains tense, marked by sharp exchanges between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP, particularly concerning voter list revisions and election preparations.
TMC's Response and BJP's Campaign Strategies
Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the TMC, has recently accused the Election Commission and the BJP of systematically removing names from the voter lists. He asserted that if the TMC returns to power, they would reverse this process and questioned the classification of the names that were removed. Meanwhile, the BJP has intensified its campaign efforts in West Bengal. Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the party's manifesto for the 2026 Assembly elections, promising the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) within six months if the BJP forms the government in the state.
Commitments Against Infiltration and Political Violence
Shah also pledged to take stringent measures against infiltration and animal trafficking, announcing the formation of a commission led by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate political violence in West Bengal. He emphasized that the public is yearning for change and accused the current government of instilling despair and fear among citizens. As the election campaign heats up, it is anticipated that the rhetoric among leaders from various parties will continue to escalate, further intensifying the high-stakes electoral contest in the state.