West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressing the gathering during a public meeting ahead of the state Assembly elections, at Dinhata, Cooch Behar district | Photo Credit: PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that efforts to link bills on amending the women’s reservation law with the delimitation mechanism were part of a “conspiracy” by the BJP government at the Centre to remove names from voter lists and introduce the NRC.

Addressing an election rally in Cooch Behar district in North Bengal, Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress supremo, alleged that attempts were being made to divide India by connecting the women’s reservation and delimitation bills.

“Attempts are being made to divide India by linking women’s reservation and delimitation bills. Connecting these bills is a conspiracy to delete voters’ names and implement NRC,” she said.

“The women’s reservation bill was passed long ago, and why was there a delay in its implementation?” she wondered, adding 37 per cent of Trinamool Congress’ elected MPs in the Lok Sabha are women.

The Trinamool Congress supremo also attacked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct, accusing the minister of distributing weaver cards illegally to women.

Sitharaman distributed weaver cards to handloom weavers-- identity documents issued by the Union Textiles Ministry that entitle weavers to government subsidies and concessional loans, during her visit to Bengal’s East Bardhaman district on Wednesday.

“During the election campaigns, cards are being distributed by the Union Finance Minister. I will appeal to the Election Commission of India to take strong action against her and all others who are misleading the people by misusing their power. I have watched the programme. Why have the cards been distributed before the elections?” Banerjee said, while addressing a public rally in Alipurduar.

Published on April 16, 2026