bjp-using-coercion-to-engineer-tmc-defections-mamata

Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Monday levelled serious allegations against the BJP, claiming that sustained pressure is being exerted on TMC leaders and MLAs to engineer defections and weaken the party.

 

Addressing a Facebook Live session, Banerjee alleged that the process of coercion typically begins with contact from police personnel, followed by calls from BJP party offices. She claimed these efforts are aimed at breaking the TMC from within by inducing fear, offering financial incentives and applying administrative pressure.

 

The TMC chief alleged that the BJP’s strategy reflects a lack of faith in the people of West Bengal and amounts to a coordinated attempt to destabilise the opposition in the state. She further claimed that multiple MLAs had informed her personally about intimidation, including threats involving investigative agencies.

 

According to Banerjee, some leaders were offered monetary inducements, while others were allegedly threatened with arrest or harassment of family members. She also alleged that in some cases, even children of party workers were being targeted to exert pressure.

Also read: TMC expels two MLAs after 61 legislators skip party meeting

 

At the same time, she acknowledged that some individuals had left the party, describing them as “opportunistic” elements who were never truly committed to the TMC. “Some ‘flotsam’ has been washed away. This has, in fact, worked to the party’s advantage,” she said.

 

Reiterating her earlier claims regarding a past Assembly election, Banerjee alleged that she was not genuinely defeated and that she had been leading by around 13,000 votes before being “forcibly removed” from the counting centre. She also alleged irregularities in several constituencies during the electoral process.

 

Banerjee criticised the BJP’s approach towards opposition parties, saying it undermines democratic norms and raised concerns over whether the ruling party, despite its mandate, lacked confidence in public support.

 

She further raised concerns over the role of the police administration, alleging inaction in cases involving attacks on TMC workers and failure to ensure safe return of displaced individuals despite court orders.