BJP to suffer huge seat loss: Mamata
Dum Dum/Haroa/Hasnabad: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed that the BJP will witness a drastic reduction in seat count in Uttar Pradesh and draw a blank in seven other states in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. This is the reason that the party, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are losing confidence and eyeing Bengal to garner votes.
Banerjee also urged the administration and the Election Commission of India to check the vehicles of all political leaders, including herself and the Prime Minister's, as BJP leaders are allegedly carrying cash for distribution among the voters.
"I will request the district administration and the Election Commission to check the vehicles of all leaders including myself as BJP is trying to buy the voters. They should also check Modi's vehicle. And, I want to know why the Election Commission's surveillance camera does not cover Modi when he gets down from the helicopter. Once some black suitcases were spotted after he got down from the chopper. Since then, nothing has been reported on the matter," she said while addressing a meeting in Hasnabad.
Without naming Bharati Ghosh, the BJP candidate from Ghatal from whose possession Rs 1.13 lakh was recovered on Thursday night, she said: "Look at their leader from whose possession money was found." It may be mentioned that Trinamool Congress supporters gheraoed the car of the state BJP president Dilip Ghosh in Egra under Midnapore Lok Sabha seat on Saturday as they suspected him of carrying cash.
Banerjee alleged that BJP leaders from other states are staying in hotels and guest houses in Kolkata with money and they are trying to woo the voters. "Leaders from Assam and Tripura are sitting with money which they plan to distribute among the voters. They should realise that they can't win elections by paying money to the voters."
Banerjee held a section of the electronic media responsible for circulating distorted news. "In many states in the country, no Panchayat elections are held. In Bengal, there might have been some problem in some areas. But the local television channels portray those incidents in such a manner as if there is real trouble going on in the state. BJP has sent those 'chosen' clippings to the ECI as a result of which elections are being held in seven phases in Bengal," she said. "In Uttar Pradesh, how many people had been killed by the gaurakshaks? In Gujarat, how many people have been lynched. In how many phases are the elections being held there," she asked.
The TMC chief also said that BJP has "hatred" for Bengal but now their leaders have come to ask for votes. "We wanted to change the name of the state from West Bengal to Bangla and the proposal was unanimously passed in the Assembly. But for the past three years, BJP is sitting on the matter. Because of the Centre's delay, we could not start our mining activities in Birbhum."
In Dum Dum, which was stated to be a CPI(M) stronghold, she said: "CPI(M) had unleashed a 'Reign of Terror' in the state. Several of our party workers had been brutally killed by them in different areas. I have not forgotten those days. They have beaten me up also. Because of the good wishes of so many people, I am still alive."
Rooting for Saugata Roy as "one of the finest Parliamentarians", she said he raises all important issues against the Modi government in Parliament religiously. Banerjee urged the people to vote for the veteran party leader from Dum Dum. In Hasnabad, she urged the people to vote for actor-turned-politician Nusrat Jahan.
