In the aftermath of torrential rains and landslides in North Bengal, opposition parties launched a fierce attack on the ruling TMC government, accusing it of neglecting relief efforts while indulging in festive pageantry.

Opposition leaders charged that while citizens in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and neighbouring districts struggled with flooding, lack of food and water, and devastated infrastructure, the state machinery was virtually absent.  BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee prioritized a carnival in Kolkata over visiting affected areas or ensuring timely assistance.  Congress also criticized the delay, claiming the state leadership was more eager for spectacle than rescue.

The CPM accused the government of systemic ecological mismanagement—illegal quarrying, indiscriminate removal of stones from hills and riverbeds, and neglect of ageing road and bridge infrastructure in the hills. These, they argue, amplified the impact of natural disasters.