‘GST Cuts A Political Move Following BJP’s ’24 Electoral Loss’

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday, 22 September, alleged that the Centre’s decision to slash GST rates on various commodities stems directly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) losing its absolute majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a Durga Puja guide map and telephone directory in Bishnupur, West Bengal, Banerjee questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent GST cut announcement was merely a continuation of a decade-long “GST Loot Utsav.”

“There’s a saying in Bengali that a cat never climbs a tree until it is in danger,” Banerjee remarked, drawing a pointed analogy. “The BJP lost 60 seats, reducing its tally from 303 to 240. That’s why GST rates slid from 27 per cent to 18 per cent. If their seats had fallen further to 200, the rate would have dropped to 9 per cent. And if the BJP finds itself with zero seats, GST would become zero.”

Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary, accused the BJP of weaponizing tax policy for electoral advantage. “It is evident that if the BJP loses, taxes decrease. If the BJP wins, taxes rise,” he asserted. “GST rates never fell over the past decade, and no relief was provided to the common people. Now, the rates have been cut only because the BJP suffered electoral losses.”

He further lambasted the Centre for allegedly withholding funds from opposition-ruled states, including West Bengal, to undermine their economies. “The country and economy have been brought to their knees by the BJP. Recommendations from states are ignored, and rightful GST shares are delayed. In opposition-ruled states, funds are deliberately withheld to destabilise the economy,” Banerjee claimed.

Responding to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s criticism of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for inaugurating Durga Puja pandals before ‘Devi Paksha,’ Banerjee fired back with a comparison to the Prime Minister. “The PM inaugurated the Ram temple and Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya three months before Ram Navami, clearly with an eye on the 2024 elections. Yet no BJP leader commented on it,” he said, highlighting what he called selective outrage.

Banerjee also decried the BJP’s lack of accountability and transparency in major policy decisions, from GST implementation to demonetisation and fund allocations. He alleged misuse of agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to target political rivals. “The BJP unilaterally imposed GST on essential commodities and blocked state funds for projects such as MGNREGA. They have also failed to honour court orders regarding these allocations,” he stated. “When Modi talks about the poor, he must explain why 69 lakh job card holders in West Bengal are yet to receive payments.”

On demonetisation, Banerjee raised lingering concerns. “The government has yet to account for the deaths and hardships caused by the sudden policy in 2016,” he added, underscoring the TMC’s broader narrative of economic mismanagement under the Modi regime.

Banerjee’s remarks reflect escalating tensions between the TMC and BJP ahead of key state events like Durga Puja, framing the GST cuts as a reluctant concession rather than genuine reform.