Mamata gives a week to party workers who want to jump ship

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has given a week's time to her party workers

and leaders who want to join other parties.

"We do not want traitors. Those who want to join other parties are free to go and I give them seven days' time. I will run my party with freshers," she said, while addressing a meeting of the party workers at Kanchrapara on Friday afternoon.

Without naming BJP leader Mukul Roy she said: "A traitor has joined BJP. It is my mistake. My party colleagues had told me about him but I did not listen to them and did not take any action on humanitarian ground. Those who want to leave the party are free to go. That will purify our party. Bring the unemployed youths into our fold and they will do the work seriously. Rest assured I will look after them," she said.

She asked her party colleagues to face the situation bravely. "Do not get scared. I have asked police to take stern action against those who will try to create disturbance in the area," Banerjee added.

The Trinamool supremo urged party workers to unite against the onslaught of BJP. "BJP is trying to divide the society. They went to the Hindu areas and spoke against the Muslims and vice-versa. They went to the Christians and spoke against the Sikhs. They even divided the SCs and STs. They incited the Biharis against the Bengalis. I am not going to tolerate this. I urge all my party workers to foil this attempt to divide our society," she added.

Banerjee reiterated that the saffron party had rigged the election by manipulating Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and that they had been reprogrammed. "We will raise the issue at the party meeting on July 21," she said and demanded the return of ballot papers.

Banerjee alleged that BJP has spent Rs 27,000 crore to win the elections. "They have spent money to buy the voters. They have spent money to circulate lies on social media. We do not have money but we will fight it out," she told her party workers.

Coming down heavily on media, Banerjee said: "It has become a trend to criticise me on television. I do not mind. But on many occasions false news has been shown just to malign Bengal. This is most unfortunate," she said.