BJP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Wednesday accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of orchestrating intimidation on the ground. She claimed that a pattern of violence during polls is pushing voters towards the BJP.
Speaking amid reports of clashes and tensions from several districts, Maliwal said visuals emerging from the state during elections are “frightening” and not limited to a single phase. She alleged that such incidents have become a recurring feature of the state’s electoral process.
“Disturbing pictures come out of Bengal every time elections are held. This is not new; it has been happening repeatedly,” she said, pointing to a climate of fear on the ground.
Escalating her criticism, Maliwal accused the TMC of fostering “goonism” and said the alleged atmosphere of coercion could ultimately work in the BJP’s favour.
“Because of this kind of goonism seen on the ground, the BJP is coming to power in Bengal,” she asserted, projecting confidence in a political shift in the state.
Delhi: On West Bengal elections, BJP MP Swati Maliwal says, “Very frightening pictures come out of Bengal. And this is not just about these elections; such pictures come out every time during elections. Because of this TMC’s goonism that is seen on the ground, the BJP is coming… pic.twitter.com/F8XjAsWPta
— IANS (@ians_india) April 29, 2026
Her remarks come at a time when the election battle in West Bengal has seen intense campaigning, high voter turnout, and frequent complaints from rival parties over alleged voter intimidation and clashes.
Maliwal recently joined the BJP after parting ways with the Aam Aadmi Party, marking a significant shift in her political alignment. Her move followed a public fallout with AAP leadership, after which she emerged as a vocal critic of the party she once represented in the Rajya Sabha.
Attacks AAP over boycott of MCD Mayor election
Maliwal also turned her attention to the AAP, criticising its decision to stay away from the MCD Mayor electoral contest. Taking a swipe at party chief Arvind Kejriwal, she questioned the move.
“You can see the kind of politics they are trying to do. When they know they are heading for zero, they walk away,” she said, likening the approach to “taking the bat and ball and leaving.”
She further accused AAP leaders of indulging in personal attacks, alleging that she herself faced abusive language when she attempted to file a complaint after an alleged assault. “When I tried to fight and file an FIR, abusive and filthy things were said about my family,” she claimed, adding that such behaviour reflects a troubling pattern within the party.
#WATCH Delhi: On the MCD Mayor election, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal says, “MCD is very crucial for Delhi’s development. As long as the AAP government was in power in Delhi, they had left it in a terrible state. Now, MCD and the Delhi government need to work together. Arvind… pic.twitter.com/b2Dt8IU5kJ
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2026