Union Home Minister Amit Shah has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of allowing infiltrators to change the state’s demography, compromising national security for the sake of vote-bank politics. Shah made these allegations at a poll rally in Kanthi, East Midnapore district, asserting that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will disintegrate and the Mamata Banerjee government will bid farewell after the BJP wins 30 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Former Bengal Minister and current Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has repeatedly praised the Mamata Banerjee government’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, despite his opposition to most of her policies. He has promised to increase the scheme’s payout three times to Rs 3,000 per beneficiary if elected. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also pledged to increase the benefit by Rs 100. The scheme, which provides a monthly cash incentive to women below 60, has over 2.11 crore beneficiaries and is considered a game-changer for the Trinamool Congress. The BJP’s focus on Lakshmir Bhandar is seen as an attempt to win over women voters, who constitute nearly 50% of the electorate in Bengal.
The fourth phase of polling in West Bengal’s Lok Sabha elections was marred by isolated incidents of violence and scuffles between political party supporters. Despite the deployment of 569 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), BJP candidate and former State party president Dilip Ghosh’s convoy was attacked allegedly by Trinamool Congress supporters at two places. Other BJP candidates, including Jaganatha Sarkar and Debtanu Bhattacharya, also faced protests. The average polling percentage across eight Lok Sabha constituencies stood at 75.66% till 5 p.m., with Bolpur recording the highest at 77.77% and Asansol the lowest at 69.43%.
