Fear of West Bengal Election Loss Turns Mamata Banerjee Against Bihar; A Look at Her Past Attacks

Patna, January 5, 2026: As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gains ground in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has increasingly turned her political fire towards Bihar and prominent BJP leaders. The latest sparks flew after her nephew Abhishek Banerjee referred to the BJP as a “snake,” prompting Bihar MP and Union Minister Giriraj Singh to retort sharply. However, this is not the first time Mamata or her Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders have targeted Bihar.

Threats Against Amit Shah
Recently, Mamata Banerjee indirectly targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah after he criticized the TMC government in Kolkata over illegal immigration during a press conference. In a public speech, Mamata warned Shah, saying, “You are lucky we let you leave the hotel; otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to step outside.” BJP amplified her remarks as a veiled threat, creating a nationwide stir.

Biharis Called ‘Goons’
During the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee had labeled people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as “goons” attempting to manipulate elections in Nandigram. BJP seized on this, highlighting the silence of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav.

Assaults on Bihari Students
In 2024, Bihari students visiting West Bengal were reportedly assaulted, with viral videos fueling political outrage. BJP leaders, including Giriraj Singh, criticized the TMC government for allegedly prioritizing illegal immigrants over Indian students. Following public pressure and intervention from Lalu Yadav, two accused individuals were arrested.

Allegations of Fake Voter Registration
In 2025, Mamata Banerjee again accused the BJP of enrolling Bihari voters in West Bengal’s voter list to tilt elections. She claimed, “BJP is adding Bihari names to West Bengal voter lists, repeating the same strategy it used in Maharashtra and Delhi. We will not allow it to succeed here.”

Political Strategy or Misstep?
Political analysts say Mamata’s attacks on Bihar stem from political necessity. With the BJP using Bihari and UP populations as a base against the TMC, Mamata seeks to consolidate Bengali voters to secure her state. Her rhetoric frames local Bengalis as ideal citizens while portraying migrants as a threat to jobs and opportunities, fueling regional identity politics.

However, past incidents — including the mistreatment of students in 2019 and 2024 — show the potential backlash of such divisive strategies. With the West Bengal Assembly elections approaching and BJP aggressively campaigning, Mamata Banerjee’s Bihar-focused rhetoric may or may not pay off, raising questions about whether her high-stakes political gamble could backfire in Bengal.