Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal and leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, has accused Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of orchestrating a ₹3,000 cash-for-votes scheme aimed at women voters. Speaking at an election rally in Kolkata on April 16, Banerjee claimed that the distribution of 'Matri Shakti Guarantee Cards' by Sitharaman and other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders constitutes a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and amounts to 'open bribery'. She urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take immediate action against those involved, questioning the timing of the initiative just before elections. Banerjee highlighted concerns about the potential manipulation of voters and criticized the ECI for perceived selective enforcement of election laws. The BJP has yet to respond in detail to the allegations, maintaining that their welfare initiatives are not tied to electoral inducements. This controversy adds to the already charged political atmosphere in West Bengal as the elections approach, with the potential to sway voter sentiment significantly.