News Analysis India

Tag: Mamata Banerjee

  • ‘Attack’ on Mamata: EC asks Bengal administration to be more cautious about security for VVIPs

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: In the wake of the Nandigram incident in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was hurt, the Election Commission has asked the state administration to be more cautious while planning for security arrangements for high-profile VVIPs when they campaign for the coming assembly election, an EC official said.

    The state chief election officer Ariz Aftab along with ADG (Law and Order) and state nodal officer Jagmohan held virtual meetings with district magistrates in the state and asked to adopt strict security measures.

    “The EC has said security arrangements must be made in a very cautious manner. We cannot be casual when it involves important high-profile VVIPs like the prime minister and the chief ministers. All DMs and the police administration have to be very alert when such figures come to the state to campaign for the coming elections,” the official said.

    Chief minister Mamata Banerjee was hurt while campaigning at Nandigram on Wednesday evening hours after she filed her nomination to contest from the seat in East Midnapore district, where she will take on her one time protege and now BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.

    She is now admitted to the state-run SSKM Hospital here.

    Following the incident, the EC secretariat has sought reports from chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, special observer Ajay Nayak and special police observer Vivek Dubey by Friday 5pm.

    Two EC special observers are likely to visit Purba Medinipur district on Friday in connection with the incident and hold meetings with senior officials in the district, sources in the CEO office said.

    The eight-phased election to the 294 seats in West Bengal will be held between March 27 and April 29.

    The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

    Several important leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and chief ministers of several states have been visiting the state for campaigning.

    Modi and Shah will be visiting West Bengal several more times for campaigning, BJP sources said.

  • ‘Attack’ on Mamata: Wounded Didi a bigger threat for rivals, feel aides

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  The injury suffered by Mamata Banerjee, known as a street-fighter who was a firebrand opposition leader during Left Front regime, may have an impact on the Assembly polls. 

    Mamata rarely misses an opportunity to recall her movements during the Left regime and mention how she was beaten up by CPI(M) cadres on several occasions.

    Her announcement to return to political activities on a wheelchair  is likely to rekindle that ‘fighter’ image again.

    “Although in the video she did not hold anyone responsible, her appearance in a campaign rally on a wheelchair with one leg in a cast will deliver a different narrative. It will portray her determination to resist the rise of a communal force,” said a senior TMC leader. TMC leaders feel the sight of a wounded Mamata attending election rallies will send a message.

    “Voters not committed to a particular political party will welcome her presence in public rallies will be moved by what they see. This is likely to help us bag electoral dividends,’’ said the TMC leader.

    Mamata has a tight schedule, with rallies lined up in the Junglemahal region from Saturday. This area goes to polls in the first phase on March 27. Sources said that Mamata is keen to follow the same schedule with her fractured leg.

    Willingly or unwillingly, Mamata in her opposition days generally gained from her appearances in public when she was not well. On one hand, it gave the impression that here was a leader unafraid of the unlawful ways embraced by her rivals.

    ALSO READ | ‘Insinuations’: EC responds to Mamata Banerjee’s allegation of attack in Nandigram

    On the other, the public also got an impression that here was a true leader, who thinks more about larger goals than herself. Sources in TMC said the party supremo knows she is the only face of the party. Individual candidates matter little in the TMC’s scheme of politics.

    “This is why she keeps urging electorates to vote for our candidates considering her as the contestant in all 294 constituencies. We are waiting for the people’s roaring welcome when she, for the first time, appears on the stage on a wheelchair with a plastered foot,’’ said another TMC leader, who didn’t want to go on record.

    Meanwhile, reports of the tests conducted on the 66-year-old Trinamool Congress supremo were satisfactory and she is responding to treatment.

    “But the X-Ray done on her left leg showed a degenerative joint disease. We are treating that,” a senior doctor at the state-run SSKM Hospital said.

    Degenerative joint disease is a type of arthritis that occurs when flexible tissue at the ends of bones wears down.

    ALSO READ | Mamata distances herself from conspiracy charges, says leg crushed by crowd

    Banerjee has severe bony injuries in her left ankle and foot, besides injuries in her right shoulder, forearm and neck, the doctor said.

    X-Ray was also done on her shoulders, injured ankle and legs.

    Doctors also did a CT scan on her neck while a USG was performed on her abdomen.

    She also has low sodium concentration in the blood and was given medication to cure it.

    “The swelling on her left ankle has subsided. Overall her condition has improved slightly,” he said adding that the CM was given light food.

    Asked when Banerjee could be discharged from the hospital, he said that the team of six doctors treating her would assess her health condition on Friday morning and make a decision.

    Sources in the hospital said that doctors are planning to conduct another series of medical tests on Friday morning.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • ‘Insinuations’: EC responds to Mamata Banerjee’s allegation of attack in Nandigram

    By Online Desk
    Responding to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s allegations of attack in Nandigram, the Election Commission on Thursday said that “it was unfortunate” that the letter was “full of insinuations and averments”.

    The Trinamool supremo is in the hospital with leg injuries after being allegedly pushed by unidentified people near a temple at Reyapara area during campaigning at Nandigram on Wednesday, where the BJP has pitted her protege-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari against her.

    The poll panel in its response to a letter by TMC added, “it is indeed an unfortunate incident and needs to be inquired into with promptitude and dispatch”.

    A parliamentary delegation of the Trinamool will meet Election Commission officials in Delhi on Friday over concerns following the alleged attack. Six TMC MPs from both the Houses of Parliament are expected to arrive in Delhi to join the delegation.

  • West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s assets worth Rs 16.72 lakh

    By PTI
    NANDIGRAM: Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has declared that her net worth is Rs 16.72 lakh.

    Banerjee, who is contesting the Nandigram assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district, doesn’t own any vehicle or property, according to her self-sworn affidavit filed before the Election Commission of India.

    The 66-year-old leader’s total movable assets are worth Rs 16.72 lakh.

    Such assets owned by her were worth Rs 30.45 lakh before the assembly election in 2016. Her income for the year 2019-20 was Rs 10,34,370.

    ALSO READ: Mamata will lose by 50,000 votes, says BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya

    Cash in hand with the chief minister is Rs 69,255 while she has a total bank balance of Rs 13.53 lakh which includes Rs 1.51 lakh in her election expenditure account.

    She also has a deposit with the National Saving Certificate (NSC) of Rs 18,490. The affidavit showed that her tax deducted at source (TDS) receivable is Rs 1.85 lakh in the financial year 2019- 20.

    Banerjee owns nine grams of jewellery worth Rs 43,837.

    A voter of Bhabanipur assembly constituency in Kolkata, she received a royalty of Rs 930 in 2019-20.

    Banerjee has a number of books to her credit.

    The chief minister has no criminal case pending against her.

    She is an MA from the University of Calcutta and also holds an LLB degree.

    Banerjee on Wednesday filed her nomination papers from the Nandigram constituency, where she is pitted against her protege-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikary of the BJP and Minakshi Mukherjee of the CPI(M).

    Voting will be held in Nandigram on April 1 in the second of the eight-phase polling.

  • TMC parliamentary delegation to meet EC in Delhi on March 12 over ‘attack’ on Mamata Banerjee

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A parliamentary delegation of the Trinamool Congress will meet Election Commission officials in Delhi on Friday over concerns following the alleged attack on party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, party sources said on Thursday.

    Six TMC MPs from both the Houses of Parliament are expected to arrive in Delhi to join the delegation, a source said.

    A delegation of the party met poll panel officials in Kolkata on Thursday and later alleged that the “Election Commission did nothing despite there being reports of a possible attack on Banerjee”.

    ALSO READ | ‘Maintain calm:’ TMC chief appeals from hospital, says will campaign even on wheelchair

    Claiming that the attack was a “deep-rooted conspiracy to take the life of the TMC supremo”, party leaders said anti-social elements have been mobilised from the neighbouring states by the BJP in Nandigram to unleash violence.

    The EC can’t shun responsibility as it is in charge of the law-and-order situation in poll-bound West Bengal, it said.

    The Trinamool Congress supremo was injured in the leg after being allegedly pushed by unidentified people near a temple at Reyapara area during campaigning at Nandigram on Wednesday, where the BJP has pitted her protege-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari against her.

    Banerjee alleged that she was pushed by four to five men while she was trying to get into the car, following which fell flat on her face.

  • ‘Maintain calm:’ TMC chief appeals from hospital, says will campaign even on wheelchair

    By Agencies
    A day after an alleged attack on Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief appealed to all to remain calm and not cause any kind of disruption.

    In a video message released by the Trinamool Congress, Banerjee, who has since been confined to her hospital bed, can be seen requesting everyone for cooperation.

    ALSO READ | Bengal Assembly polls: TMC, BJP meet Chief Electoral Officer over Mamata ‘attack’

    “…While I have sustained many injuries in my leg and am experiencing migraine and chest pain, I urge everyone to remain calm and not cause any inconvenience to others,” she could be heard saying.

    She also added that she expects to get back to campaigning in 2-3 days but may be wheelchair-bound in the meantime.

    দলনেত্রীর @MamataOfficial আবেদন pic.twitter.com/SPoD3m7Iu3
    — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 11, 2021

    Banerjee earlier alleged that during her campaign in Nandigram, she was attacked by four-five men who pushed her, besides banging on her the door of her car, leading to the injuries.

    “I was doing ‘namaskar’ standing on the bonnet of my car, at that time pressure was exerted, because of which my leg was hit by the car. In that condition, whatever medicine I was carrying I had those and soon we left for Kolkata. Since then, the doctors are treating me,” the chief minister said in the video.

    Banerjee’s appeal to her supporters came amid widespread protests by Trinamool Congress workers across the state.

    The TMC activists blocked roads, burnt tyres and raised slogans, blaming the BJP for the alleged attack.

    “We appeal to all our workers to not let their emotions overflow. We understand your concerns and we’ll keep updating about Hon’ble @MamataOfficial’s health. We request to maintain peace and not resort to means which Didi would not approve of. Let us all pray for her speedy recovery,” the All India Trinamool Congress tweeted.

    Meanwhile, TMC MLA Paresh Pal informed, “The condition of her (Mamata Banerjee) leg is serious. Doctors are treating her. A little more pressure could have resulted in spine injury.”

    A delegation of the TMC on Thursday filed a complaint at the Election Commission office in Kolkata over the attack and have called the incident a “deep-rooted conspiracy to take her life”.

    ALSO READ | Claims that police were not with Mamata when attack took place were laughable: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

    The Chief Minister, who was on a two-day visit to Nandigram from where she filed her nomination earlier on Wednesday, alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning.

    She was brought to Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital by road from Nandigram.

    Banerjee sustained “severe bony injuries” on her left foot and ankle as well as bruises and injuries on her shoulder, forearm and neck, according to the report of her initial medical examination.

    West Bengal is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and the BJP in the fray.

    Elections to 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

    (With Online Desk inputs)

  • EC has to take responsibility for attack on Mamata Banerjee, they failed to provide her security: TMC

    The three-member TMC delegation, led by state minister Partha Chatterjee met EC officials and registered a complaint into the incident and demanded a thorough probe.

  • Mamata Banerjee’s leg in serious condition: TMC MLA Paresh Pal

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s leg is in serious condition, informed Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Paresh Pal on Thursday, a day after she was allegedly attacked by unidentified persons.

    “The condition of her (Mamata Banerjee) leg is serious. Doctors are treating her. A little more pressure could have resulted in spine injury,” Pal told reporters outside the SSKM hospital in Kolkata.

    Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Tathagata Roy and Shamik Bhattacharya also reached the SSKM Hospital to meet the Chief Minister but were unable to meet after they were advised otherwise.

    “We wanted to meet her (Mamata Banerjee) but couldn’t because that was not medically advised. We met Aroop Biswas ji and asked him to convey best wishes to her,” Roy said.

    The incident allegedly happened at Birulia when Banerjee after her scheduled campaigning programme in Nandigram was returning to Reyapara.

    This comes ahead of the elections for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, which will be held in eight phases starting from March 27. The final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. 

  • Mamata Banerjee stable; senior officials visit area where Bengal CM was allegedly attacked

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is undergoing treatment at a state-run hospital here following the alleged attack on her in Nandigram is “stable” now, and doctors are planning to conduct a series of medical tests, including a CT scan, to assess the degree of her injury, sources at the facility said on Thursday.

    Preliminary medical tests conducted on Banerjee late on Wednesday night detected severe bone injuries in her left ankle and foot, and injuries in her right shoulder, forearm and neck, they said.

    “A temporary plaster was done on her left ankle and she will undergo several blood tests this morning. Her ECG report was fine.”

    “Banerjee is stable now. She will be under observation for the next 48 hours. A CT scan may be conducted during the day. We will again examine her and decide on our next course of treatment. Her fever subsided,” a doctor of the SSKM Hospital told PTI.

    The state government constituted a nine-member team to treat Banerjee, and doctors conducted an x-ray on the chief minister as soon as she was taken to the hospital from Nandigram on Wednesday evening.

    Banerjee sustained injuries on her left leg and waist as she fell on the ground after she was allegedly pushed by unknown miscreants while campaigning for assembly elections in Nandigram.

    She is undergoing treatment at the 12.5 special cabin of Woodburn Block of the SSKM Hospital.

    The TMC supremo had on Wednesday filed her nomination to contest the ensuing assembly elections from Nandigram seat.

    Meanwhile, Senior district officials on Thursday morning visited the area where Banerjee was allegedly attacked.

    Purba Medinipur District Magistrate Vibhu Goel, Superintendent of Police Praween Prakash and other officers visited the Birulia Bazar area to inquire about the incident, officials said.

    The officers spoke to eye-witnesses, besides looking for any CCTV installed in the area to ascertain the exact sequence of events, they said.

    “We are talking to people who were present here during the incident. We have not got hold of any clear footage of that moment till now,” the district magistrate said.

    ALSO READ | Delhi CM Kejriwal condemns ‘attack’ on Mamata, says those responsible must be arrested

    “Multiple people are giving multiple versions of the incident. We are trying to listen to those who were present at that moment, and then file our report to the Election Commission,” he added.

    The district administration may file a report to Election Commission by the second half of the day, sources said.

    “We are also looking for anyone who has managed to record the incident on his or her mobile phone at that time,” a senior police officer said.

    Trinamool Congress and BJP supporters got engaged in a war of words over the attack on Banerjee as the officials were visiting the Birulia Bazar area.

    The TMC supporters alleged that the “attack was a pre-planned conspiracy”, while the BJP workers termed it a lie.

    Banerjee alleged on Wednesday evening that she was attacked by four-five men who pushed her, besides banging on her the door of her car, injuring her left leg, waist, shoulder and neck as she fell on the ground.

    Soon after the alleged incident, the Election Commission sought a report on the matter from Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay.

    ALSO READ | ‘Attack’ on Mamata: Theatrics for public sympathy, says Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

    “This is a serious matter which needed to be investigated. We are constantly keeping a tab on the situation. We have sought a report from the state police and administration. The report must be sent quickly,” a senior official at the CEO said.

    A preliminary report was sent to the EC, New Delhi on Wednesday night, he said.

    No official complaint was lodged by the chief minister till Thursday morning, sources said.

    The chief minister at present is undergoing treatment at the city-based state-run SSKM hospital.

  • ‘Attack’ on Mamata: Trinamool defers its manifesto release, to approach Election Commission

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress has deferred its manifesto release scheduled for today following an alleged attack on party chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

    The Chief Minister, who was on a two-day visit to Nandigram from where she filed her nomination earlier on Wednesday, alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning.

    She was brought to Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital by road from Nandigram.

    leader Partha Chatterjee has said that the party will raise the incident of the attack over West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee with the Election Commission on Thursday.

    “Those who are cowards have been constantly trying to stop Mamata, but no one could stop her, today’s incident shows that the attack on Mamta Banerjee was a conspiracy, first the state’s Additional Director General of Police (ADG) law and order was changed, after that the state Director General of Police was removed, now this incident happened,” Chatterjee told reporters outside the hospital where Mamata Banerjee has been admitted.

    “We (TMC party leaders) have decided that tomorrow we will go to the Election Commission and keep this matter in front of the constitutional authority,” he added.

    ALSO READ | ‘Attack’ on Mamata: Theatrics for public sympathy, says Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

    Banerjee was brought to Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital by road from Nandigram, where she was campaigning for the upcoming Assembly polls in the state. She was wheeled into the hospital on a stretcher.

    The chief minister, who was on a two-day visit to Nandigram from where she filed her nomination earlier on Wednesday alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning yesterday.

    She sustained “severe bony injuries” on her left foot and ankle as well as bruises and injuries on her shoulder, forearm and neck, according to the report of her initial medical examination.

    West Bengal is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and the BJP in the fray.

    Elections to 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

    While Mamata Banerjee is seeking her third consecutive term, BJP has set a target of winning 200 seats in the 294-member state Assembly. Congress and the Left have stitched the alliance for the polls and had already finalised the seat-sharing agreement. They are also in touch with the Indian Secular Front (ISF), recently floated by influential minority leader Abbas Siddique.

    ALSO READ | Delhi CM Kejriwal condemns ‘attack’ on Mamata, says those responsible must be arrested

    In 2016, West Bengal Assembly elections, out of the 294 seats, Congress had managed to win 44 seats while the Left Front bagged 33 seats. The ruling TMC secured 211 seats and the BJP had won 3 seats.

    The BJP made deep inroads in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections winning 18 seats and decimating TMC’s tally to 22. Out of the total 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, Congress won two seats, the Left drew a blank.

    After BJP’s performance in the 2019 polls, several TMC leaders have joined the party.