JP-led central government, TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee made a sensational claim during an election rally in Binpur, Jhargram. Addressing a massive crowd on Friday, Banerjee warned voters that the recent minor cuts in fuel prices are temporary and predicted that cooking gas would skyrocket to ₹2,000 and petrol to ₹200 per litre immediately after the polls conclude.

“Let the final phase of voting end on April 29. Mark my words, from April 30, the Modi government will start picking your pockets,” Abhishek roared from the stage. He alleged that the BJP is using temporary relief as a “bait” to secure votes, only to unleash record-breaking inflation once the ballots are cast. He challenged PM Modi and his ministers to guarantee that prices would remain stable for the next five years.

Linking the issue to the state’s popular welfare scheme, Abhishek stated that while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee empowers women through ‘Lakshmir Bhandar,’ the BJP is conspiring to drain those savings by hiking the cost of essential commodities. He framed the election as a choice between a “pro-people Didi” and a “pro-corporate Modi government.”

The Diamond Harbour MP’s strategy of highlighting the ‘₹2000 Gas & ₹200 Petrol’ figure aims to strike a chord with the rural and middle-class electorate who are already struggling with the cost of living. As the West Bengal 2026 Assembly Elections approach their peak, this narrative of “post-election price hikes” is set to become a central theme in the TMC’s campaign trail.