. NEW DELHI: Supreme Court’s rebuke of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for her interference in ED raids on I-PAC, which worked for her govt and Trinamool Congress, handed BJP a useful weapon on the eve of the state polls’ first phase as the party intensified its last-minute push in its bid to end her 15-year tenure in office.BJP seized on the top court’s sharp observations to allege that she symbolised “jungle raj” and anarchy, and had no right to continue as the CM. People will rid the state of her lawless govt on May 4 (day of counting), party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said on Wednesday.BJP functionaries, especially in West Bengal, amplified SC’s criticism of her as they worked up a multi-pronged campaign on the eve of the first phase of polling.Residents in parts of Kolkata woke up to “anonymous” posters sharing a QR code (pay2tmc) for availing different benefits, a pointed jibe at the alleged cut-money practice linked to TMC, in what many saw as part of BJP’s amplification of its outreach and ground game in its rival’s stronghold of south Bengal where polling is due in the second phase on April 29.Home minister Amit Shah presided over a marathon meeting that went well past midnight (Wednesday) in the state’s capital with key party functionaries, taking feedback and giving instructions aimed at booth management and mobilising maximum turnout of party supporters, especially in the second phase regions where BJP has trailed TMC badly in previous polls. Shah, BJP’s lead poll strategist, will be camping in the state till April 27, the last day of campaign as BJP makes an all-out effort.The view within BJP is that it has managed to build a potent narrative riding twin planks of anti-incumbency against Mamata, one of the most formidable opposition satraps, and its outreach buoyed by its Hindutva agenda, welfare promises targeting women and youths and action against infiltrators.BJP functionaries believe what makes this election distinct from 2021, when their party had run a strident campaign with an air of expectant victory but was humbled by Mamata as Trinamool Congress won a thumping 215 seats in the 288-member assembly, is that their cultural narrative has set deeper roots and their ground presence has more breadth.This coupled with SIR and a huge presence of central police forces has to a large extent neutralised certain advantages governing parties in the state have long enjoyed through poll irregularities, they claimed.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Denies Crypto Scam Claims After Ship Fired Upon in Strait of Hormuz TensionsFormer J&K DGP SP Vaid on Pahalgam Attack, Terrain and Security Challenges In Jammu And KashmirIndia Marks Pahalgam Anniversary With a Strong Message To Terror Outfits & Pak | WatchEC Issues Notice To Kharge Over “Terrorist” Remark On PM Modi After BJP Complaint‘Democracy Cannot Be Jeopardised’: SC Slams Mamata Banerjee Over Alleged Interference In ED RaidIran Seizes Two Ships in Strait of Hormuz, India-Bound Vessel Sparks Global ConcernINS Dhruv: The ship behind India’s missile tracking and strategic strength‘Dot, Dot, Dot’: Rajnath Singh Warns Pakistan On Pahalgam Attack AnniversaryFrom US To Israel: Global Leaders Mark One Year Of Pahalgam Terror AttackPappu Yadav Defies NCW Notice, Doubles Down on Remarks Amid Massive Political Row123PhotostoriesCoachella 2026: 5 bizarre influencer outfits that ruined the festival fashionHow to make South Indian Curd Rice for dinner at homeThe economy-class survival guide: How to be comfortable on a long-haul flightHow to deal with a child who answers back: 3 mindful parenting tips inspired by SadhguruAre you killing your Bougainvillea with kindness? Here are 4 things you really need to knowGenelia Deshmukh proves she believes in tradition in the sea of trends with her soft pink Nauvari saree momentANZAC Day 2026: What’s open and closed across AustraliaOTT Releases This Week (April 23–27): ‘If Wishes Could Kill’, ‘Marty Supreme’, ‘Band Melam’, ‘Apex’ lead the slate3 mantras to chant everyday that are believed to bring peace, prosperity and divine protectionExclusive: President Droupadi Murmu hosted South Korean President with royal Rajasthani feast123Hot PicksBengal Election 2026Rahul gandhi rallyBengal election dos and don’tsTamil Nadu pollsSIR ProtestTN election dos and don’tsBank Holidays AprilTop TrendingLSG vs RR IPL MatchMohandas PaiSupreme CourtMalegaon Blast CaseMeerut Blue Drum Murder CaseBareilly Suicide NewsTCS Nashik CaseDelhi Murder NewsMiddle East ConflictIPL Orange Cap
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court’s rebuke of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for her interference in ED raids on I-PAC, which worked for her govt and Trinamool Congress, handed BJP a useful weapon on the eve of the state polls’ first phase as the party intensified its last-minute push in its bid to end her 15-year tenure in office.BJP seized on the top court’s sharp observations to allege that she symbolised “jungle raj” and anarchy, and had no right to continue as the CM. People will rid the state of her lawless govt on May 4 (day of counting), party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said on Wednesday.BJP functionaries, especially in West Bengal, amplified SC’s criticism of her as they worked up a multi-pronged campaign on the eve of the first phase of polling.Residents in parts of Kolkata woke up to “anonymous” posters sharing a QR code (pay2tmc) for availing different benefits, a pointed jibe at the alleged cut-money practice linked to TMC, in what many saw as part of BJP’s amplification of its outreach and ground game in its rival’s stronghold of south Bengal where polling is due in the second phase on April 29.Home minister Amit Shah presided over a marathon meeting that went well past midnight (Wednesday) in the state’s capital with key party functionaries, taking feedback and giving instructions aimed at booth management and mobilising maximum turnout of party supporters, especially in the second phase regions where BJP has trailed TMC badly in previous polls. Shah, BJP’s lead poll strategist, will be camping in the state till April 27, the last day of campaign as BJP makes an all-out effort.The view within BJP is that it has managed to build a potent narrative riding twin planks of anti-incumbency against Mamata, one of the most formidable opposition satraps, and its outreach buoyed by its Hindutva agenda, welfare promises targeting women and youths and action against infiltrators.BJP functionaries believe what makes this election distinct from 2021, when their party had run a strident campaign with an air of expectant victory but was humbled by Mamata as Trinamool Congress won a thumping 215 seats in the 288-member assembly, is that their cultural narrative has set deeper roots and their ground presence has more breadth.This coupled with SIR and a huge presence of central police forces has to a large extent neutralised certain advantages governing parties in the state have long enjoyed through poll irregularities, they claimed.
