Cooch Behar 

Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling them “Bangla-Birodhi Zamindars” who seek votes but fail to deliver for the people.

Campaigning in Cooch Behar, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP shared a video of his outreach efforts and asserted that the party’s “Maa-Mati-Manush Sarkar” has consistently stood by citizens without expecting anything in return.

“Nowhere. Because they were never here for the people. They were here for the votes. It is only the Trinamool Congress that has stood beside the people, in every crisis, at every hour, without condition and without calculation,” Banerjee said in a post on X.

He alleged that the BJP leadership visits West Bengal only during elections, accusing them of making “grand promises” and then disappearing. “The Bangla-Birodhi Zamindars demand your votes without delivering anything in return. Our Maa-Mati-Manush Sarkar delivers without demanding anything in return,” he added.

Banerjee also questioned the absence of central leaders during crises in North Bengal, including floods, NRC-related concerns, and issues faced by tea garden workers. He further alleged harassment of voters and raised concerns over actions by central agencies.

His remarks come days after Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Cooch Behar on April 5, where he criticised the ruling TMC government and said it would be held accountable after the election results. Modi had also expressed confidence in a BJP victory, promising development and action against illegal infiltration.

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West Bengal is set to vote in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting scheduled for May 4, setting the stage for a high-stakes electoral contest between the TMC and the BJP.