Earthquake triggers face-off: BJP chants 'SIR' as Kolkata feels tremors, TMC retorts with ‘Delhi zamindars’ jibe

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday seized the opportunity to turn an earthquake into political ammunition, using tremors felt across Kolkata and parts of the Northeast to take a swipe at Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress party, sparking a war of words on social media.

Moments after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake rattled Bangladesh’s Narsingdi district — tremors of which were also felt in Kolkata – the BJP’s state unit posted on X, “West Bengal just felt earthquake tremors. Mamata Banerjee, was it because of SIR?"

The TMC shot back instantly, saying, "It’s actually the ground shaking beneath the feet of @BJP4Bengal as they stare at an imminent defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections. And don't worry, the Delhi Zamindars won’t miss it either; the shockwaves will reach them too."

The war of words comes amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal – as the state gears up for the Assembly Elections – due in 2026.

Three people were killed when the railing of a six-storey building collapsed during the earthquake, Reuters reported citing police.

"We felt a strong jolt and buildings were shaking like trees," Suman Rahman, a Dhaka resident told the news portal. "Staircases were jammed as people rushed down. Everyone was terrified, children were crying."