Guwahati/Kolkata : Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday sharply criticised Mamata Banerjee over her reported remarks on the safety of Hindus in West Bengal, calling them “dangerous, divisive and communal.”

In a post on X, the Assam Chief Minister said such statements were “wholly unbecoming” of a sitting Chief Minister and warned that they could undermine social harmony. “Bengal needs to be saved, now,” he wrote, suggesting that the remarks pointed to deeper governance concerns.

Sarma argued that the claim-that citizens are safe only due to personal intervention-amounted to an admission of administrative failure rather than a reflection of strong leadership. He further alleged that demographic changes were altering the state’s social fabric and renewed his attack on the ruling All India Trinamool Congress, accusing it of fostering “appeasement politics, riots, syndicate rule, and violence.”

Citing the Sandeshkhali episode, where women had levelled allegations of exploitation and land-grabbing against individuals linked to the ruling establishment, Sarma said the incident reflected a broader climate of fear. He claimed that ordinary citizens were “exhausted” by what he described as misgovernance.

Positioning the Bharatiya Janata Party for the upcoming electoral contest, Sarma said the party was determined to unseat the Trinamool Congress in the 2026 Assembly elections. “This fear will end in 2026 itself. The people of Bengal will bring this change,” he asserted.

The remarks triggered a swift response from the Trinamool Congress, which accused the BJP of issuing “open threats” and attempting to undermine Bengal’s cultural and linguistic identity. In a counter-post on social media, the party reiterated its charge that the BJP is “Bangla-Birodhi” (anti-Bengal), alleging efforts to homogenise the state’s diverse social fabric.

The exchange comes amid intensifying political rhetoric ahead of the next phase of polling scheduled for April 29, with vote counting set for May 4. The first phase of polling recorded a turnout of 93.19%.

While the Trinamool Congress is aiming for a fourth consecutive term in office, the BJP is seeking to improve on its 2021 performance, when it emerged as the principal opposition in the state assembly.