Shaking off the trauma of Thursday’s mid-air scare, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived in Andal today via flight, choosing the aerial route over the road despite earlier changes in plans. Following the harrowing 70-minute ordeal where her aircraft hovered over Kolkata due to a severe thunderstorm, the CM expressed her profound gratitude to the flight crew. “The pilots were exceptionally skilled. They gave their best to manage the treacherous situation and saved our lives,” she said upon landing at Andal.

However, the relief of a safe landing did not soften her political stance. Immediately after her arrival, she launched a blistering attack on the BJP regarding the revision of electoral rolls and the management of LPG supplies. Mamata Banerjee accused the saffron party of attempting to manipulate the voter list by removing names of legitimate voters ahead of the crucial 2026 elections. “We will fight this conspiracy at every level to protect democracy in Bengal,” she asserted.

Adding a new dimension to her critique, the CM also raised concerns about the distribution of cooking gas produced within the state. She warned that the LPG produced in West Bengal must not be diverted outside, especially when nearly a million personnel are expected to arrive from other states for election duty. She emphasized that the gas requirements of external forces should not lead to a shortage for the local citizens. “Our priority is to ensure that the people of Bengal don’t suffer from a gas crisis during the polls,” she noted. Her visit to Andal has set the tone for an intense electoral battle, blending personal resilience with sharp political messaging.