Mamata Banerjee Says TMC Could Have Won 230 Seats Without Rigging

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee once again launched a sharp attack on the BJP following the recent Assembly election results. Speaking through a Facebook Live session on the day of the Falta Assembly election results, the Trinamool Congress chief claimed that the TMC did not genuinely lose the elections. According to her, large-scale vote manipulation and administrative misuse helped the BJP secure victory in the state. Mamata Banerjee alleged that the Election Commission acted in favor of the BJP and claimed that she was “forcibly defeated” in the Bhawanipur Assembly constituency. She argued that if the elections had been conducted fairly, the Trinamool Congress could have won between 220 and 230 seats in the Assembly. She further accused the BJP government of violating democratic principles and suppressing opposition voices after the election results. The TMC supremo also alleged that several party workers faced harassment after the polls. She claimed that nearly two to two-and-a-half thousand Trinamool workers had been arrested and accused the BJP of targeting street vendors and demolishing party offices. Banerjee also criticized what she described as unequal treatment in matters related to religious practices, saying that rights should be equal for everyone. During her speech, Mamata Banerjee raised concerns over the removal of a football statue from a stadium, stating that it had been appreciated by many people and was created by an artist. She questioned whether the decision to remove it was politically motivated. The former Chief Minister also alleged that allowances provided to imams and priests had been discontinued and misrepresented by political opponents. She expressed anger over the Trinamool Congress not being granted official opposition status in the Assembly despite having 89 MLAs, arguing that the required number for recognition is much lower. Banerjee also strongly criticized BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari over remarks about jailing Trinamool workers. In response, she said that separate jails would be needed for TMC supporters if such actions continued. She further alleged that Adhikari’s name had surfaced in major controversies, including the Saradha Scam and Narada Sting Operation cases, adding that he should face legal action first.