Amidst the high-voltage campaign for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections, the violent clashes during a Ram Navami procession in Raghunathganj have triggered a massive political showdown. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a scathing attack on the BJP top brass and the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging a “planned conspiracy” to destabilize the state while she is stripped of her administrative control.

The “Two Devils” Remark: Speaking at a rally in Murshidabad, a visibly furious Mamata Banerjee referred to PM Modi and Amit Shah as “two devils” who are operating from Delhi to control Bengal. “These two devils have used the Election Commission to snatch my powers. My police and administration have been handcuffed. They have replaced efficient officers with their own favorites just to allow BJP to instigate violence,” she alleged.

Questioning the ECI’s Neutrality: Mamata claimed she had pre-warned the authorities about potential unrest during Ram Navami, but the ECI-appointed officials ignored her inputs. “The blood spilled in Raghunathganj is on the hands of the Election Commission. They have rendered me a ‘lame duck’ CM so that they can terrorize the people of Bengal through their cadres,” she said. She further accused the central forces of being “mute spectators” while the violence unfolded.

BJP’s Counter-Attack: The BJP leadership was quick to dismiss her claims as “electoral frustration.” State BJP leaders argued that the violence was a result of the TMC’s “appeasement politics” and that Mamata is attacking constitutional bodies because she fears an imminent defeat in the 2026 polls.

Escalating Tension: The Raghunathganj incident has led to a high-alert situation in Murshidabad and surrounding districts. With the Governor seeking an immediate report from the Chief Secretary, the political atmosphere in Bengal has reached a boiling point just ahead of the next phase of voting.