'Bhaiya has been chased away, now Didi’s turn': Rekha Gupta's swipe at Mamata

Gupta's remarks come days after Banerjee accused the Centre of targeting Bengali-speaking migrant workers and attempting to manipulate the voter list ahead of the polls.

• Rekha Gupta accused Mamata Banerjee of shielding infiltrators
• Gupta claimed central funds for Bengal are not reaching the poor
• Banerjee alleged Centre is targeting Bengali migrant workers

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Rekha Gupta on Sunday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of presiding over "politics of terrorism, hooliganism and greed" and claiming that change was imminent in the state ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Addressing the media during her visit to Kolkata, the Delhi Chief Minister alleged that Banerjee was shielding “infiltrators” and failing to ensure women’s safety.

“The end of the politics of terrorism, hooliganism and greed is coming. These elections will bring change in Bengal,” Gupta said. “Mamata Banerjee can hide behind infiltrators, but she cannot suppress the public’s voice.”

Taking a swipe at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, Gupta said, "I was thinking, Didi is in Bengal, and Bhaiya was in Delhi. Do you remember? Bhaiya has been chased away. Whose turn is it now? Both were alike. They want their name on everything. It is the public’s money; it should be used for the public good."

She alleged that central funds meant for Bengal’s development were not reaching the poor.

"The Centre sends lakhs of crores of rupees for Bengal’s development. Is it reaching the poor? The people of Bengal have not been able to access development. Where has all the money gone?", she asked.

Gupta also targeted the state government over women’s safety, referring to the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Hospital. "There is a woman chief minister, and yet the daughters there are not safe, and the dignity of women is not valued. This would not happen anywhere in the country, in the world," she said.

The remarks come days after Banerjee accused the Centre of targeting Bengali-speaking migrant workers and attempting to manipulate the voter list ahead of the polls.

Speaking at a Matra Bhasha Diwas event in Kolkata on February 21, Banerjee had lashed out at the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged that the Centre was trying to "capture Bengal through force".

"Won’t tolerate humiliation of Bengal. What is your hurry to throw people of Bengal out of the voter list? You want to capture Bengal through force. They are too greedy to control Bengal. This won’t happen," she said.

Alleging an "authoritarian-like situation" in the country, Banerjee called for unity against the BJP. “You are controlling everything. There is an authoritarian-like situation in India. I say get united. I will give my life but won’t bow down,” she added.

The Chief Minister had also alleged that Bengali migrant workers were being labelled “Bangladeshis” in other states. “We respect all languages. I see people targeted due to speaking the Bangla language, called Bangladeshi in other states. Remember one thing, Bengali is not dependent on anyone,” she said.

In a pointed remark, she said, “Ban on chicken, ban on mutton. Next, they will try to ban wearing a saree. What did Bengali people do that they are being atrocised in other states? Is it a crime to speak in Bengali?”

Earlier this month, Banerjee expressed shock over the murder of Sukhen Mahato, a 24-year-old migrant worker from Purulia who was working in Pune, terming it a hate crime and demanding strict action against those responsible.

At the Matra Bhasha Diwas event, Banerjee conferred the Bangabibhushan award on BJP Rajya Sabha MP Anant Maharaj, who thanked the state government for the honour.

“February 21 is observed as Bhasha Diwas. I was invited and attended the event following the invitation. I thank the Government of West Bengal for the honour conferred on me,” Maharaj said.

West Bengal is headed for Assembly elections in the first half of 2026, with the ruling All India Trinamool Congress seeking a fourth consecutive term. The main opposition BJP is intensifying its campaign, turning the contest into a high-decibel battle in the eastern state.