'Outlived Its Usefulness': BJP Predicts Imminent Collapse Of Mamata Govt, TMC Dismisses Claims

The political landscape in West Bengal remains tense as both parties engage in a war of words, setting the stage for a fierce political battle in the coming months.

In the midst of rising political tensions in West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has increased its criticism of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), claiming that the government of Mamata Banerjee is doomed. Speaking at a party event in his Bongaon Lok Sabha constituency, BJP MP Shantanu Thakur on Sunday (July 16) declared confidently that the TMC government will not last more than five months. The statement comes as the BJP continues its efforts to gain traction in the state and challenge the TMC's dominance. However, the TMC has dismissed these predictions, refusing to believe the BJP's claims.

"I have a feeling this government will not last more than five months," he predicted, news agency PTI quoted him. "The Mamata Banerjee government has outlived its usefulness. The BJP would have won thousands of more seats if the TMC had not used widespread rigging in the recently concluded panchayat elections," he said. 

"However, this will be the final election under the supervision of the TMC government, in which all state machinery, including the State Election Commission (SEC), has failed to play a neutral and impartial role," Thakur, who is also the Union Minister of State for Shipping, said.

At least 39 people have died as a result of panchayat poll-related violence since the election date was announced on June 8. The TMC was responsible for the majority of those killed, PTI reported citing police sources. 

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar told reporters after attending an organisational meeting to assess the party's panchayat poll performance, "Anything can happen at any time. Let's wait and see what happens. Who knows if there is a people's uprising against the TMC's misrule and terror," he added, according to the report. 

"Who knows if TMC MLAs will suddenly refuse to follow Mamata Banerjee's methods. I'm not saying it'll happen; it might not. But in politics, anything is possible," he said. 

TMC Slams BJP's Threats, Claims Mass Support:

TMC Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Santanu Sen responded to BJP leaders' comments, saying, "All these BJP leaders, including Adhikari, are desperate to raise their ratings in Delhi by issuing threats to a government that came to power for the third time through a huge mandate two years ago and enjoys mass support," he was quoted as saying by PTI.  

"If the BJP tries any misadventure out of desperation" following the drubbing in panchayat polls, he added, "the people of the state will thwart it."

Sen claimed that BJP leaders such as Adhikari and Ghosh made similar predictions about the TMC government's demise in December and January, and "even spelled out specific dates," but nothing happened.

TMC state general secretary and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh claimed that BJP leaders are making such claims "to boost the morale of their rank and file," who had been demoralised following the panchayat election results. "They (BJP leaders) are well aware of the absurdity of their claims," he continued.