West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a sharp critique of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of acting as an “acting Prime Minister” and warning Prime Minister Narendra Modi against placing excessive trust in him.

Speaking to media upon her return from flood-affected north Bengal, Banerjee alleged that Shah wields undue influence - especially over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bengal - and claimed that Modi is well aware of Shah’s interventions. She cautioned that Shah could one day become Modi’s “Mir Jafar,” a historical reference to betrayal in Indian history. 

Banerjee’s remarks come amid mounting political tensions ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections. Her comments also underscore alarm within opposition circles about the alleged centralization of power in the hands of a few within the ruling establishment. The BJP, meanwhile, has yet to formally respond to her warnings.