PURULIA: Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee exposed what he called the BJP’s hollow promises during a high-voltage election rally in Balrampur on Monday. Targeting the ruling party’s track record, he accused them of failing to honor commitments made to families of deceased workers Trilochon Mahato and Dullu Kumar.
The duo met untimely ends in 2018 before panchayat elections, prompting BJP to launch a vilification campaign against rivals while Amit Shah vowed jobs for their kin. ‘Promises made in 2018, forgotten by 2026—no jobs, no support,’ Banerjee pointed out, revealing how families were stonewalled by local BJP leaders including MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato.
Banerjee painted a picture of BJP’s opportunism: ‘They played politics with corpses, won elections on sympathy waves, but abandoned the families once victory was secured.’ He linked this neglect to broader governance failures, slamming the candidate Jaldhar Mahato’s nomination as a ‘ticket-for-car’ deal.
Local grievances fueled his narrative. Train delays plague commuters daily—Howrah-Chakradharpur and Purulia Expresses run notoriously late. ‘Your MP can’t fix trains; how will he provide water or homes?’ Banerjee challenged, rallying support for TMC’s vision.
As Bengal gears up for polls, Banerjee’s address signals a sharp escalation in rhetoric. He positioned TMC as the true champion of workers and masses, contrasting it with BJP’s alleged betrayal. The crowd’s response indicated this message could sway undecided voters in this crucial belt.
