Mamata Banerjee Warns of Cooking Gas Price Surge if BJP Wins Elections

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress President Mamata Banerjee issued a warning, stating that the price of cooking gas cylinders could surge to ₹2,000 if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returns to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Banerjee, addressing a gathering in Jhargram district, criticized the BJP and claimed that the party would force people to resort to collecting wood for cooking if it regains power.

Banerjee expressed concern that the BJP might increase the price of cooking gas cylinders to ₹1,500 or ₹2,000 if it wins the elections. She asserted that such a situation would push people back to the practice of using wood for cooking.

Additionally, Banerjee highlighted the completion of houses under the Awas Yojana and warned that if the Central government fails to finish construction by April-end, the West Bengal government will take over the responsibility.

She also accused the BJP government of not paying the dues for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), citing the example of a youth who had not received payment for the scheme for the past two years.

The political discourse between the BJP and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has intensified, with the recent arrest of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, the main accused in the Sandeshkhali sexual assault case, leading to a heated exchange between the two parties.