NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused Union home minister Amit Shah of behaving like an “acting Prime Minister” and requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to not "trust him always".
Banerjee compared Shah to Mir Zafar, the 18th-century military general who betrayed Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey.
“Shah may one day become his (PM Modi's) Mir Zafar. Whatever the Election Commission is doing in the name of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is at Shah’s behest,” she said, as quoted by PTI.
Also read - ‘This is not Gujarat’: Mamata slams PM Modi over Bengal flood remarks
"We can request the Prime Minister not to trust Amit Shah always. One day, he will turn out to be your biggest Mir Zafar. Be alert while you have the time because morning shows the day," she said.
Mamata’s remarks come amid growing opposition criticism of the Election Commission (EC), which has accused it of acting on behest of the BJP. The opposition has also on multiple occassions alleged major irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls in Bihar.
"Their leader holds a meeting and comes here to say that he will delete several lakh names from the voters' list of Bengal. Tell me, we are currently reeling under natural calamities, heavy rains, celebrating festivals and so on. Can the SIR exercise be completed within a fortnight and can fresh names be uploaded in that period under the current circumstances?" Mamata questioned.
In August, Shah had visited Kolkata, where he met Bengal BJP MPs to discuss SIR.
At the time, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya alleged that the TMC was worried the EC would uncover fake voters if the SIR were carried out in Bengal.
Political tensions in West Bengal have been rising ahead of the state elections scheduled for next year.
Banerjee made the remarks after returning to Kolkata from a visit to the flood-affected areas of the state.
Mamata Banerjee confirmed that relief operations are underway in the affected regions. “As far as the things here (flood-affected areas in WB) are concerned, I am sending all the relief materials. I sent 400 packets to Mirik yesterday. Kits are being sent to Nagrakata, Siliguri, Maynaguri, and Alipurduar. I have sent my Panchayat Minister. We are doing all relief works,” she said. She also met 21 displaced families and announced that 500 relief kits, including blankets, rice, dal, dry food, and milk, had been distributed. About 1,000 stranded tourists were safely evacuated in 45 buses.
Banerjee addressed attacks on BJP leaders Khagen Murmu and Shankar Ghosh while they were visiting flood-hit areas, noting, “I met him (Khagen Murmu), he is a little injured in his ears. But he is diabetic, so he is under observation. I wish him a speedy recovery.” She also condemned the assault on the TMC office in Tripura, with MP Saayoni Ghosh saying, “We condemn this…we are going to assess the situation and give a message to our workers that they are not alone.”
Banerjee compared Shah to Mir Zafar, the 18th-century military general who betrayed Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey.
“Shah may one day become his (PM Modi's) Mir Zafar. Whatever the Election Commission is doing in the name of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is at Shah’s behest,” she said, as quoted by PTI.
Also read - ‘This is not Gujarat’: Mamata slams PM Modi over Bengal flood remarks
"We can request the Prime Minister not to trust Amit Shah always. One day, he will turn out to be your biggest Mir Zafar. Be alert while you have the time because morning shows the day," she said.
Mamata’s remarks come amid growing opposition criticism of the Election Commission (EC), which has accused it of acting on behest of the BJP. The opposition has also on multiple occassions alleged major irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls in Bihar.
"Their leader holds a meeting and comes here to say that he will delete several lakh names from the voters' list of Bengal. Tell me, we are currently reeling under natural calamities, heavy rains, celebrating festivals and so on. Can the SIR exercise be completed within a fortnight and can fresh names be uploaded in that period under the current circumstances?" Mamata questioned.
In August, Shah had visited Kolkata, where he met Bengal BJP MPs to discuss SIR.
At the time, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya alleged that the TMC was worried the EC would uncover fake voters if the SIR were carried out in Bengal.
Political tensions in West Bengal have been rising ahead of the state elections scheduled for next year.
Banerjee made the remarks after returning to Kolkata from a visit to the flood-affected areas of the state.
Mamata Banerjee confirmed that relief operations are underway in the affected regions. “As far as the things here (flood-affected areas in WB) are concerned, I am sending all the relief materials. I sent 400 packets to Mirik yesterday. Kits are being sent to Nagrakata, Siliguri, Maynaguri, and Alipurduar. I have sent my Panchayat Minister. We are doing all relief works,” she said. She also met 21 displaced families and announced that 500 relief kits, including blankets, rice, dal, dry food, and milk, had been distributed. About 1,000 stranded tourists were safely evacuated in 45 buses.
#WATCH | Bagdogra: On flood situation, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, "There can be anger at the time of flood and communal tensions. This will be cleared after the investigation...I went there but not with this type of convoy, only 2-3 cars with me. Also, I worked. I also… pic.twitter.com/rX3MOuNB2V
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2025
Banerjee addressed attacks on BJP leaders Khagen Murmu and Shankar Ghosh while they were visiting flood-hit areas, noting, “I met him (Khagen Murmu), he is a little injured in his ears. But he is diabetic, so he is under observation. I wish him a speedy recovery.” She also condemned the assault on the TMC office in Tripura, with MP Saayoni Ghosh saying, “We condemn this…we are going to assess the situation and give a message to our workers that they are not alone.”
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