Political tensions in West Bengal escalated dramatically after Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Malda district MLA Abdur Rahim Bakshi delivered a series of inflammatory remarks during a protest rally. Bakshi, who also serves as the TMC’s district president, stunned many when he threatened to physically harm a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator with acid.

The rally, held on Saturday, was organized in response to what TMC leaders described as growing “atrocities” against Bengali-speaking migrant workers. Instead of limiting his speech to political criticism, Bakshi launched a chilling threat directly aimed at BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh.

Though he refrained from naming Shankar Ghosh outright, the target of his comments was unmistakable. Bakshi thundered before his supporters that if he ever heard derogatory remarks directed at Bengali migrant workers again, “I will burn your voice to ashes with acid inside your mouth.” His warning was sparked by earlier controversial statements from Shankar Ghosh, who had described a large section of Bengali migrant workers as either “Rohingyas” or “Bangladeshis.”

Expanding his outburst further, Bakshi repeated his charge with increased aggression, declaring, “The one who shamelessly says that the 30 lakh migrant workers of Bengal who work outside are not Bengalis, that they are Rohingyas, they are Bangladeshis. He shouted this. I said it then and I am saying it today, if I hear this from you again, I will burn your voice to ashes with acid inside your mouth.” By invoking the figure of “30 lakh” migrant workers, Bakshi sought to portray himself as the defender of Bengali identity, suggesting that their dignity was under direct attack from BJP leaders.

The TMC MLA did not stop with threats about silencing Shankar Ghosh’s voice. He escalated his speech to outright physical violence. In front of a charged crowd, Bakshi thundered, “You should know that this is West Bengal. We Bengalis will not give you a place to speak. I will burn your face with acid.” His words drew loud cheers from the gathering, but also alarmed many who feared that such rhetoric could provoke unrest.

What made his address even more disturbing was his call for active hostility against the BJP’s presence in Malda district. Bakshi urged his party workers to destroy BJP symbols and disrupt their organizational activities. He asked them to rip down BJP flags from the area and impose social ostracism on individuals still associated with the rival party. According to him, those who maintained links with the BJP should not be allowed to speak publicly or carry out political work. This open incitement to action blurred the line between political rivalry and targeted intimidation.

The BJP wasted no time in responding to Bakshi’s threats. Leaders described the remarks as a reflection of the “culture of intimidation” that they accuse TMC of nurturing across the state. Khagen Murmu, BJP Member of Parliament from Malda Uttar, strongly criticized Bakshi, calling his comments a desperate attempt to cling to political relevance. Murmu argued that the TMC was becoming increasingly nervous about the approaching state assembly elections and that leaders like Bakshi were resorting to shocking threats in order to maintain their influence. He remarked that Bakshi had a habit of making such controversial statements simply to stay in the headlines, rather than focusing on real governance or public welfare.

This latest controversy is not an isolated incident in Bakshi’s career. He has a long history of provocative speeches. A few years ago, he shocked the political fraternity by openly threatening to dismember opposition leaders and workers if they dared to challenge him. His repeated use of violent language has now become a matter of serious concern, as it risks normalizing aggression in West Bengal’s already polarized political climate.

Observers point out that such remarks not only endanger political opponents but also erode democratic norms by instilling fear among ordinary citizens. With the state already prone to frequent clashes between rival party workers, leaders resorting to threats of acid attacks could push tensions into more dangerous territory. The timing of the outburst, coming so close to election preparations, also signals the high stakes and fierce competition that define Bengal’s political battleground.

Bakshi’s remarks have thus opened another chapter of heated exchanges between TMC and BJP, with both sides now using this controversy to reinforce their positions. For the TMC, the attempt appears to be about projecting themselves as protectors of Bengali identity. For the BJP, it has become fresh evidence to highlight what they claim is a regime of intimidation under TMC rule.