The political atmosphere in West Bengal is heating up as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) engage in a war of words ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI) of conspiring against her, while the BJP claims that Bengal is ready to oust her.

Banerjee has launched a scathing attack on the BJP and ECI, alleging political bias in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. She voiced concerns that the SIR process could be used to unfairly target genuine voters, particularly within the Matua community, a marginalized Hindu group facing difficulties linking their records to the 2002 voters' list during the SIR process. Addressing a rally in Bongaon, a Matua-dominated area, Banerjee claimed her helicopter was blocked, preventing her from reaching the venue on time. She accused the BJP of being involved in the cancellation of her helicopter ride, forcing her to travel by road to Bongaon.

Banerjee has accused the BJP of attempting to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) through the SIR in border areas. She alleged that the BJP is using deceptive tactics to lure voters into applying for CAA cards, accusing them of collecting money from people with the promise of including their names in the voters' list. She cautioned that declaring themselves as foreigners under the CAA would lead to their names being immediately removed from the voter list. She further claimed that the BJP is strategically using the SIR drive to create panic among the masses, particularly among Bangladeshi Hindus.

Banerjee has warned that if the BJP tries to challenge her in Bengal, she will "shake the entire country". She has also declared that she will tour the entire nation after the 2026 state polls. She criticized the ECI, stating that it has become a "BJP Commission" and is no longer an impartial body. She questioned the intent of SIR, noting that only a few states have been exempted from the exercise and that the time given for electoral roll revisions is not adequate.

Responding to Banerjee's accusations, Bengal BJP unit president Samik Bhattacharya stated that Mamata Banerjee has been "tried, tested, and rejected by the people". He asserted that she is aware of her imminent defeat and is attempting to mislead the public. Bhattacharya made it clear that infiltrators from Bangladesh will be detected, and their names will be deleted from the electoral roll before they are deported.