Mamata challenges Modi, Shah to compete with her in chanting 'mantras'
Kolkata, Mar 19: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday lashed out at the BJP for questioning her religion and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah to compete with her in chanting 'mantras' (hymns).
Stating that her government had renovated several temples in the state, she accused the saffron party of engaging in political rhetoric over Ram Mandir ahead of general elections.
"Worship does not mean only putting a 'tilak' on the forehead. One must understand the meaning of the mantras (Hindu religious hymns). I challenge Modi-Shah to compete with me in chanting mantras," the Trinamool Congress supremo said.
Mamata, one of the harshest critics of BJP, said, "There are people who question my religion. I want to say that my religion is humanity and I do not need lecture from others about religion.
"They try to point fingers at me and say I do not allow puja to be conducted in Bengal. They should go and see how many 'mandir' (temples) have been constructed during the TMC regime," she said at a programme here in connection with the upcoming Holi festival.
The BJP had often questioned the chief minister's religion and accused her of following the politics of minority appeasement.
"We do not believe in the religion of hatred. We believe in humanism. They only engage in political rhetoric over Ram Mandir before elections. We have renovated and redeveloped temples at Tarapith, Tarakeshwar and Dakshineshwar (in Kolkata)," she said.
Banerjee said she believes in playing Holi with colours "unlike some sections (BJP) who believe in playing with blood.
"I believe in playing Holi with colours and a pure mind unlike a section who believes in playing Holi with the blood of others. I do not need to learn the true meaning of communal harmony from a divisive force like BJP," she said.
Banerjee called for maintaining communal harmony during 'Doljatra' (as the festival of colours is known in Bengal) and Holi, and cautioned people to be on guard against any effort to disturb peace.
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Mamata asks TMC nominees not to leave counting centres as EC data shows BJP leading
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged TMC candidates and agents to remain vigilant and not to leave counting centres, alleging that there was a "game plan" by the BJP and the Election Commission to show the saffron party taking a lead in the early trends of counting.
In a video message issued during the counting of votes, the TMC supremo appealed to party workers to stay put and not to lose morale.
"I appeal to everyone that neither TMC candidates nor counting agents should abandon counting centres," she said.
As trends on the Election Commission website indicated the BJP leading in 188 seats against the TMC's 94, Banerjee maintained that her party was still ahead in a significant number of constituencies.
"We are still ahead in 170 seats, but I request everyone not to lose hope," she said, adding that there were "around 70 to 100 seats where we are leading, but they are not sharing the data of those seats".
"A false narrative is being spread," she alleged.
The chief minister accused the Election Commission of "not declaring results or leads" in areas where the TMC was ahead.
"This is a game plan by the EC and the BJP as it (poll panel) is not declaring results or leads in areas where we are leading," she said.
Banerjee also alleged irregularities in the counting process at some locations.
"In several places, counting has been stopped after the first two to three rounds. In Kalyani, we have caught seven machines with severe anomalies," she claimed.
She further alleged that TMC workers were being "harassed with the help of central forces" and that party offices were being "vandalised and forcefully captured".
"With the help of central forces, they are harassing and torturing AITC workers. Our offices have been vandalised," she said, also alleging that voter list revision exercises were "purposefully done to target seats where we were strong".
Seeking to reassure party workers, Banerjee said more rounds of counting were yet to take place and urged them to stay firm.
"Fourteen to eighteen rounds of counting will happen. You will surely emerge victorious. Don't be afraid; fight like tigers," she said.
Her remarks came as counting trends suggested that the BJP was leading in 188 seats and had crossed the halfway mark of 148 in the 294-member assembly, pointing to a potential shift in the state's political landscape.
Counting for 293 constituencies was underway with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes.
Officials cautioned that trends could change as more rounds are counted, and final results would be known later in the day.
জরুরি বার্তা pic.twitter.com/Uc82oihwEL
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 4, 2026
