Mamata Banerjee Reverses Historic Slogan, Demands 'Revenge, Not Change' in Bengal
On the eve of the first phase of the two-phase assembly elections in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dramatically flipped her iconic 2011 campaign slogan, issuing a stark new call for "bodol noy, bodla chai" (revenge, not change). This directly reverses her original message of "bodla noy, bodol chai" (change, not revenge), which propelled her to a historic victory that ended the decades-long rule of the Left Front in the state.
Rallying Cry Against BJP and Central Forces
Addressing energetic rallies in Amdanga, North 24 Parganas, and Haripal, Hooghly, Banerjee framed the upcoming vote as a battle for democratic revenge. "In 2011, I said 'change, not revenge.' This time I say 'revenge, not change,'" she declared. "Revenge at the ballot box, revenge for democracy. We will not allow Bengal to be set on fire like Lanka." Her comments were a pointed critique of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the center.
Banerjee launched a fierce attack on the unprecedented deployment of central security forces for the polls. "Have you ever heard of an election where they fight by bringing so much force from Delhi?" she questioned. "You have brought armoured vehicles, held meetings with the military, deployed BSF, CRPF, railways, and aviation—forces from every state. Why? Do you want to open fire? Bring your armoured vehicles; I will stand alone."
She further challenged the necessity of such measures, suggesting the resources be redirected. "Do you need the military to conduct polls in Bengal? Go send them to Manipur—there hasn't been peace there for three years," Banerjee stated, highlighting ongoing conflicts in other regions.
Warnings to Officers and Allegations of Bias
The Chief Minister issued a stern warning to serving police and administrative officers, urging them to maintain neutrality and not act on behalf of the BJP. "You have forgotten that in the coming days, you will have to work in Bengal. IPS and WBPS officers have their own dignity. Maintain your neutrality," she advised.
Banerjee accused the central forces of partisan behavior, alleging they were "chanting BJP zindabad." She questioned why Trinamool Congress members were being targeted while BJP candidates with criminal allegations, like Rakesh Singh, remained unarrested.
Trinamool Leadership Echoes Strong Stance
Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, addressing a separate rally, called for a decisive electoral response to the BJP. He emphasized that the party should be given a result that makes it "think 100 times before betraying Bengal again."
Adding to the party's allegations, former Bengal Director General of Police and Trinamool MP Rajeev Kumar revealed details from a meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer. "Over 500 arrests have been made following verbal orders from police observers," Kumar reported. He issued a strong warning: "Every officer who has issued or abetted unlawful arrest orders will be named, charge-sheeted, and dragged before court. State borders offer no protection, nor does political immunity."
As Bengal heads to the polls, Mamata Banerjee's rhetorical shift from a message of change to one of revenge underscores the heightened political tensions and her strategy to galvanize support against the BJP, framing the election as a critical defense of the state's autonomy and democratic values.
