West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately trying to disrupt her election campaign by planting “cherry-picked” officers at the airport to delay her flight operations.
Addressing a public gathering in poll-bound West Bengal, Banerjee alleged that her aircraft was held on the runway for nearly 30 minutes, which affected her campaign schedule. She claimed that the delay was not incidental but part of a planned attempt to obstruct her movements during the crucial election period.
“They have cherry-picked officers. They deliberately stopped me so that my programmes would get delayed,” Banerjee said, accusing the BJP of using administrative machinery to create hurdles. She further alleged that her party had to struggle to obtain permissions for campaign meetings, claiming that officials were acting under political influence.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that a similar situation had reportedly occurred with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s helicopter, suggesting a pattern of interference. She alleged that certain officials assigned election duties were aligned with the BJP and were creating difficulties for opposition leaders and workers.
Banerjee intensified her attack by accusing the BJP of attempting to influence the electoral process through intimidation and misuse of authority. She warned that such actions would not go unanswered and asserted that people would respond “democratically” through their votes.
The allegations come amid heightened political tensions in West Bengal, where campaigning is in its final stages ahead of voting. The state is set to go to polls in multiple phases, with results scheduled to be announced on May 4.
The BJP has not yet officially responded to these specific claims. However, the party has consistently denied similar allegations in the past, maintaining that election-related arrangements are carried out in accordance with rules under the supervision of the Election Commission of India.
Political observers note that such accusations are common during high-stakes elections, with parties often alleging bias or misuse of administrative systems. With the campaign reaching its peak, the war of words between the ruling All India Trinamool Congress and the BJP continues to intensify.
As voting approaches, the focus remains on whether these claims will influence voter perception and how authorities ensure a smooth and fair electoral process in the state.
