Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Picture Credit score: ANI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday (October 17, 2025) clarified her utilization of the time period ‘bohiragoto’ (outsider) and mentioned that she was referring to a specific political social gathering and never outsiders.
“They’ve taken one in every of my statements and intentionally twisted it to present it a special that means. Once I used the time period ‘Bohiragoto’, I used to be clearly referring to a specific political social gathering, a celebration that brings in individuals from exterior the State. They add the names of ten outsiders alongside the names of our real voters, in order that our personal persons are prevented from voting,” the Chief Minister mentioned.
Ms. Banerjee made the remarks whereas inaugurating a Kali Puja in Kolkata. On Tuesday (October 14) had mentioned alleged that Bhabanipur, the Meeting seat she has been representing, was being stuffed by ‘bohiragoto (outsiders)’ in a deliberate method.
“I see these days that in lots of locations, slums of the poor are being demolished and large residential tasks are being constructed there. I don’t assist this. Our voters are being pushed away. Bhabanipur is being crammed with outsiders in a deliberate method,” Ms. Banerjee had mentioned.
On Friday, the Chief Minister mentioned that she had requested Councilors to stay vigilant towards the manipulation however her phrases have been misinterpreted.
“Below the guise of elections, many outsiders come right here illegitimately. How can one individual have their identify registered in two locations? That’s what I identified and why I cautioned my Councillors to stay. vigilant. Sadly, my phrases have been intentionally misinterpreted,” she mentioned. Chief of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had challenged that he’ll defeat the Chief Minister from Bhabanipur within the Meeting polls subsequent 12 months.
The time period ‘bohiragoto’ has typically been raised by Trinamool Congress leaders in political discourse typically aimed to focus on outsiders significantly these whose mom tongue isn’t Bengali. The Trinamool Congress leaders additionally describe the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) as a celebration of outsiders.
The utilization of the time period ‘bohiragoto’ is linked to the identification politics the place West Bengal’s ruling social gathering makes an attempt to champion the reason for ‘Bengali Asmita (Bengali identification and language)’. Nevertheless, over emphasizing on the time period ‘bohiragoto’ poses the danger for the Trinamool Congress to lose the assist base of a bit of voters whose mom tongue is probably not Bengali.
Printed – October 18, 2025 04:24 am IST