Malda, West Bengal erupted in fresh political drama on Thursday as BJP leader Dilip Ghosh unleashed a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee amid the ongoing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. Speaking to the media, Ghosh dismissed any expectations that Banerjee would heed the Supreme Court’s directives, regardless of their nature.
The Supreme Court had heard Banerjee’s latest petition on the SIR issue just a day earlier, intensifying the political standoff. Ghosh, a prominent BJP figure in the state, remarked, ‘Everyone knows the Chief Minister’s style of speaking. She insults the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and even our former party president Nadda. What can one say about those who disregard the Constitution and court orders?’
He emphasized that the people of West Bengal would ultimately decide the state’s future. ‘The Supreme Court and High Court have spoken before, but no matter what the court says, Mamata Banerjee won’t listen,’ Ghosh asserted. He accused her of approaching the courts only when cornered, while ignoring rulings that don’t suit her agenda.
In a bold prediction, Ghosh labeled the upcoming interim budget in the state assembly as the ‘last budget’ of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. ‘This is their final budget; they won’t get another chance,’ he declared, expressing skepticism about any substantial benefits for the public. He suggested announcements might be made merely to woo voters.
All eyes are on Thursday’s interim budget presentation by the Mamata Banerjee-led government. Expectations run high for updates on the popular Lakshmi Bhandar scheme, dearness allowance (DA), and salaries for ASHA workers. Launched as a pre-election promise in 2021, Lakshmi Bhandar has become a cornerstone of TMC’s women-centric welfare push. Currently, general category women receive Rs 1,000 monthly, while SC/ST women get Rs 1,200.
Political analysts speculate that Banerjee might hike the scheme’s payouts to consolidate support among women voters ahead of future polls. As tensions simmer over voter list revisions and judicial interventions, Ghosh’s remarks underscore the deepening BJP-TMC rivalry in West Bengal, setting the stage for a fiercely contested political battle.