Launching a scathing offensive against the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday challenged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to deny election tickets to leaders currently embroiled in corruption scandals. Speaking at a high-octane rally in Barrackpore, Shah alleged that the “institutionalization of corruption” has reached its peak in West Bengal.
The “Nephew” Factor and Ticket Challenge
Addressing a massive gathering of party workers, Shah threw a direct gauntlet at the TMC supremo. He claimed that the Chief Minister is “handcuffed” by her own party members, alleging that if she denies them tickets, they will “leak names” related to the party’s internal hierarchy.
“I challenge Mamata Banerjee: if you truly have the courage to fight corruption, show us by not giving tickets to those who have been to jail,” Shah declared. He specifically named high-profile leaders, including Partha Chatterjee, Jyotipriya Mallick, Anubrata Mondal, and Madan Mitra, among others. Shah asserted that the Chief Minister’s silence is fueled by her ambition to “make her nephew the next Chief Minister.”
Corruption Under the Scanner
The Home Minister listed a series of alleged scams, spanning from teacher recruitment and the PM Awas Yojana to ration distribution and municipal hiring. “Thousands of crores have been looted, yet you claim not to see it,” Shah said, addressing Banerjee. He asked the crowd if a government that has “crossed all limits of corruption” deserves to remain in power, receiving a thunderous “No” in response.
Promise of a Supreme Court-Led Probe
Looking ahead to the 2026 Assembly elections, Shah made a significant procedural promise. He announced that upon forming the government in West Bengal, the BJP would establish a high-level probe.
“I want to assure the people of Bengal: once a BJP government is in place, we will initiate a comprehensive investigation into every single scam under the leadership of a Supreme Court judge,” Shah promised. He vowed that every corrupt individual would be identified and sent to jail.
The rally marks a clear escalation in the BJP’s campaign strategy, positioning “corruption” and “dynasty politics” as the central pillars of their challenge to the TMC’s decade-long rule.