West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party  attempted to disrupt her campaign schedule by placing “cherry-picked” officials at an airport, resulting in a delay to her flight and other administrative hurdles linked to her political programmes.

Banerjee claimed that her aircraft was held on the runway for nearly 30 minutes, describing the incident as a deliberate attempt to interfere with her travel plans. She also alleged that a similar situation had previously affected Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, referring to delays involving his helicopter, which she cited as part of a broader pattern of obstruction against opposition leaders.

The Chief Minister further accused authorities of creating difficulties in granting permissions for political meetings, alleging that administrative processes were being influenced to slow down campaign activities. Speaking at a public rally in Khardaha, she said her party had faced repeated challenges in securing approvals for events and warned that such actions would be countered through democratic means.

Addressing Trinamool Congress supporters, Banerjee also appealed for backing of party candidate Devdeep Purohit in the ongoing political campaign. She cautioned voters about potential irregularities related to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), urging them to remain vigilant during both polling and counting stages.

Escalating her criticism of the central government, Banerjee questioned the deployment of security forces during election-related activities, including the use of armoured vehicles. She asked whether such measures were necessary in Bengal’s electoral context, stating that the military’s role should remain limited to national security responsibilities and not electoral oversight.

In her remarks, Banerjee also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what she described as unfulfilled promises on employment generation and financial support schemes. She questioned the status of previously announced commitments, including job creation targets and monetary assurances, arguing that public expectations had not been met.

The BJP has not issued an immediate response to the specific allegations made by Banerjee regarding airport delays and administrative interference. The remarks come amid intensifying political exchanges in West Bengal as campaigning gathers pace.