West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday clarified her remarks on “outsiders” in her Bhowanipore assembly constituency, stressing that her comments were about electoral manipulation, not targeting any community or language group.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that a deliberate effort is underway to change the voter composition in her Bhowanipore assembly constituency in South Kolkata, a seat she has represented since 2011. Without naming any party, Banerjee claimed that outsiders were being brought in to influence elections.
She said, “People are coming here, purchasing land, constructing buildings, and offering money to current residents to make them leave. In many areas, big houses are being built by demolishing the slums of the poor. I do not support this. You are driving away our voters.” Banerjee urged that state housing schemes be used to protect slum residents, asserting that safeguarding her constituents’ homes is crucial for the party’s priorities.
Addressing the controversy on Friday at a Kali Puja event, Banerjee clarified her remarks on “outsiders.” She said, “They have taken one of my statements and deliberately twisted it to give it a different meaning. When I used the term ‘Bohiragoto,’ I was clearly referring to a particular political party that brings in people from outside the State.”
“They add the names of ten outsiders alongside the names of our genuine voters, so that our own people are prevented from voting. Under the guise of elections, many outsiders come here illegally,” she added.
Banerjee further explained, “How can one person have their name registered in two places? That is what I pointed out and why I cautioned my councillors to remain vigilant. Unfortunately, my words were deliberately misconstrued.”
Banerjee emphasised that her comments were about electoral manipulation and not directed at any community. “There are many Hindi-speaking people, many Bengali-speaking people, and slowly Bhowanipore is being completely filled with outsiders through a planned effort,” she added.
The BJP dismissed the Chief Minister’s allegations. Party leader Locket Chatterjee said, “Nobody is bringing any outsider. All are her own people from her constituency. She is being judged by her own people based on her work.”
Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumder also criticised Banerjee, questioning her statements on outsiders and ridiculing past remarks.
