Political Tensions Erupt Between Trinamool and BJP Following Bangladesh Earthquake Tremors in Kolkata

Kolkata experienced tremors following a 5.7 magnitude earthquake that originated in Bangladesh, triggering an immediate political exchange between rival parties.

Shortly after earthquake tremors were detected in Kolkata, West Bengal, the BJP took a jab at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by questioning whether the seismic activity was connected to the state's voter roll revision. The tremors resulted from a 5.7 magnitude earthquake that struck neighboring Bangladesh.

"West Bengal just felt earthquake tremors. Mamata Banerjee, was it because of SIR?" posted the Bengal BJP unit on social media platform X.

In response, the Trinamool Congress countered that the tremors actually represented "the ground shaking beneath the feet of the BJP as they stare at an imminent defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections," adding that "the Delhi Zamindars won't miss it either; the shockwaves will reach them too."

The Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal has ignited intense political conflict, with both the BJP and ruling Trinamool Congress accusing each other of manipulating voter lists. In a recent letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee expressed deep concerns about the revision process, describing it as having reached a "deeply alarming stage" and calling for its immediate suspension.

Banerjee criticized the implementation of the voter list revision as "unplanned" and "chaotic," stating that "the manner in which this exercise is being forced upon officials and citizens is not only unplanned and chaotic, but also dangerous." She highlighted the lack of "basic preparedness, adequate planning or clear communication" that had caused disruption in the process.

The Chief Minister further alleged that the Election Commission had imposed the SIR without sufficient preparation, noting problems with training, confusion regarding required documentation, and the practical impossibility of booth-level officers meeting voters during their working hours.

The BJP dismissed these allegations, accusing Banerjee of attempting to "derail" what they consider a legitimate process.

As this political confrontation continues, Trinamool's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee is scheduled to address more than 10,000 party leaders involved in SIR-related activities next week. He will also evaluate the performance of Trinamool MPs and key leaders regarding their contributions to the voter roll revision process.

The earthquake that triggered these political exchanges struck Bangladesh at 10:08 am (IST), approximately 10 kilometres east-southeast of Dhaka, according to the National Centre for Seismology. The natural disaster resulted in at least six fatalities in Bangladesh—three from building roof and wall collapses, and three others from falling building railings in Dhaka.

Tremors were felt across multiple West Bengal districts, including Kolkata, Dakshin and Uttar Dinajpur, and Cooch Behar, with residents reporting minor movements of fans and wall decorations. The seismic activity was also detected in other northeastern Indian states including Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. No casualties or injuries have been reported within India.