News Analysis India

Tag: Nandigram

  • ‘Attack’ on Mamata: ECI seeks report, says official

    The Trinamool Congress supremo was injured in the leg after being allegedly pushed by unidentified people near a temple at Reyapara.

  • ‘I am here to serve all: Mamata Banerjee prepares tea at roadside stall in Nandigram; visits temple, mausoleum

    By PTI
    NANDIGRAM: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday visited a temple and a mausoleum in Nandigram, where she has crossed swords with her former close aide-turned-bete noire Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, and said she “does not believe in divisive politics”.

    The TMC supremo, after addressing a party workers’ meeting, paid her reverence at the local mazar, popular among members of the minority community here, and then offered prayers at Maa chandi temple nearby.

    As she entered the temple, women, who lined up next to the shrine, blew conch shells to greet her.

    At the mausoleum, too, she was extended a warm welcome.

    ALSO READ | ‘I too am a Hindu, I do Chandipath every day’: Mamata warns BJP against playing ‘Hindu card’ 

    Next, Banerjee visited a roadside stall, where she prepared tea for the customers, much to the astonishment of the shop owner.

    “I am here to serve all, no matter which section they belong to. People are with me, 100 per cent of them. On Shivratri (Thursday), I will be offering puja at a temple, which is close to my accommodation in Nandigram, interact with people there and then file my nomination, she said.

    The CM, while talking to reporters, also said several welfare projects have been launched by her government in Nandigram over the past 10 years, “as is evident from the metalled roads, streetlights and bustling marketplaces, and more such work will be undertaken in the days to come”.

  • West Bengal polls 2021: CM Mamata Banerjee rejects ‘outsider’ tag in Nandigram

    By PTI
    NANDIGRAM: Coming down hard on those calling her an outsider in Nandigram, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday for them people “coming from Gujarat” are insiders.

    Addressing booth-level TMC workers a day ahead of filing her nomination for the seat, Banerjee said people who had “sold their souls to outsiders from Gujarat” are insulting the Nandigram movement by playing the communal card.

    Banerjee is pitted against her former confidante Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP some time ago, in the high-profile seat.

    Without naming Adhikari even once, Banerjee said that she had made up her mind to contest either from the Singur or Nandigram–the two cradles of anti-land acquisition movement– that catapulted her to power in 2011.

    She said she decided to contest from Nandigram because of overwhelming response of the people. “I have heard some people are calling me an outsider in Nandigram. I am amazed. I was born and brought up in the neighbouring Birbhum district, and the person who is calling me an outsider was also not born here. Today I have become an outsider, and those coming from Gujarat have become insiders in Bengal,” she said.

    Adhikari has often called himself “bhoomiputra” (son of the soil) while seeking to get back at the TMC supremo who has been targeting the BJP with the “party of outsiders” barb. Accusing Adhikari of trying to incite communal passions, Banerjee said,”Those who have sold their souls to the outsiders are insulting the Nandigram land acquisition movement by playing the communal card.”

    “Some people are talking about 70:30 ratio (of Hindu- Muslim population). Those doing that are insulting the sacred Nandigram movement which people of both communities fought together. People of Nandigram will make BJP ‘April fool’ on April 1 when polling is held,” she asserted.

  • West Bengal polls: Mamata Banerjee to file nomination from Nandigram on March 10

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will file her nomination papers from the Nandigram seat on March 10, while her rival and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari will do the same two days later, as the stage is set for the Battle Royale in the constituency.

    After the release of the party manifesto on Tuesday, the Trinamool Congress supremo would leave for Nandigram in the evening and file her nomination papers the next day, party sources said.

    She would then attend a workers’ meet and return to Kolkata on March 11.

    Adhikari, whose name was announced as the BJP candidate from the seat on Saturday, will file the nomination on March 12.

    “After filing nomination papers, he will address a rally there,” BJP leader Kanishka Panda said.

    Nandigram, the cradle of the anti-land acquisition movement that catapulted Banerjee to power in 2011, will witness her once protege Suvendu Adhikari taking on her on April 1, in the second of the eight phases of polling.

    For 50-year-old Adhikari, the contest in Nandigram will be a fight for his political survival as he had vowed to defeat Banerjee by over 50,000 votes in the seat or quit politics.

    Adhikari won the Nandigram seat in the 2016 assembly election, while another TMC candidate emerged victorious from the constituency in 2011.

    The former minister had quit the TMC and resigned from the assembly last year to join the BJP after having differences with the state’s ruling party. On the other hand, Banerjee will contest the Nandigram seat for the first time after relinquishing the Bhowanipore constituency in Kolkata, from where she had won twice.

    The TMC supremo has rented a house in Nandigram and will campaign from there.

    Elections in Bengal, poised to be a stiff contest between the TMC and the BJP, will be held in eight phases between March 27 and April 29.

    Votes will be counted on May 2.

  • West Bengal Assembly elections: Spotlight on Nandigram as Mamata announces her candidature

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: With Mamata Banerjee’s announcement confirming that she will fight from Nandigram constituency in East Midnapore district, countdown to the high-octane West Bengal Assembly elections began on Friday. The chief minister’s decision has turned the spotlight on Nandigram again, 14 years after the area witnessed a fierce protest against land acquisition, which eventually contributed to the downfall of the Left Front in 2011.

    “When I say something, I keep my word. I will contest from one constituency and that is Nandigram. I will go to Nandigram on March 9 and file nomination next day,’’ said Mamata. This is said to be a move to counter her once trusted lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari’s defection to BJP. The Nandigram constituency has become the talk of Bengal politics of late, ever since Mamata hinted that she might contest from there and Adhikari said he would ensure her defeat by over 50,000 votes.

    Adhikari repeated this at a rally in the same district recently. ‘’She has decided to run away from her Bhowanipore constituency.  Had she contested from there, her defeat would have been secured. But she will have to return to Kolkata from Nandigram empty handed,’’ he had said. In 2007, a movement started in Nandigram following the CPI(M) government’s decision to build a special economic zone in the area.

    The killing of 14 villagers in police firing triggered a movement led by the TMC which led to the fall of the Left.  TMC won panchayat elections there in 2008, Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and a massive victory in the state Assembly polls in 2011. In 2021, the picture changed  as Adhikari, a key player behind the Nandigram movement, joined BJP. Sensing a tough battle,  top TMC functionaries have started frequenting Nandigram. They are looking for houses where Mamata will set up her base.

  • TMC releases first list for 8-phase Bengal polls, Mamata to contest only from Nandigram

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday released the list of  291 Trinamool Congress candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls and confirmed that she will only fight from the Nandigram constituency.

    The incumbent Trinamool Congress (TMC) has left three seats for its ally Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).

    Addressing a press conference here, Banerjee said she will contest from Nandigram and not from the Bhowanipore constituency, from where she has been the sitting MLA since 2011.

    “We are the first political party to announce the candidate list. Today, we are releasing a list of 291 candidates, which includes 50 women, 79 SCs, 17 STs and 42 Muslim candidates. On three seats of north Bengal, we are not putting up our candidates. In three seats — Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong — Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) will contest the elections and whoever wins will support us,” she informed.

    “I will contest from Nandigram as I stick to my words. From Bhowanipore constituency, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay will be contesting in the upcoming Assembly elections,” she added.

    The TMC chief said the party was not able to provide seats to many because they have to bring new candidates forward.

    Suvendu Adhikari is the current MLA from Nandigram. Adhikari, once a close aide of Banerjee and TMC leader has now switched to BJP in December, last year.

    West Bengal Assembly elections 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 in the state will take place on May 2.  

  • Bengal polls: BJP challenges Mamata to announce she will contest only from Nandigram, TMC hits back

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The BJP Saturday challenged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to announce that she will contest the coming state election only from Nandigram if she is confident of her victory, prompting TMC to hit back and ask the saffron party to first name its chief ministerial candidate.

    BJP national general secretary and Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya in a tweet asked Banerjee to announce whether she will be fighting only from Nandigram.

    The Trinamool Congress was quick to hit back saying it wondered why BJP is scared of declaring its Nandigram candidate or its chief ministerial face.

    BJP has not announced its candidate for the seat and has said it will choose its chief minister only after coming to power in the state.

    Banerjee had announced at a TMC rally at Nandigram in January that she will contest from the seat.

    Nandigram had witnessed anti-farmland acquisition movement in 2007 in the aftermath of the then Left Front government’s plan to acquire land for a special economic zone.

    TMC rode the crest of the movement and came to power in the state in 2011 ending the 34-year rule of the LF.

    In 2016 the Nandigram seat in East Midnapore district was won by the then TMC heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari, who recently switched over to BJP and has publicly vowed to defeat Banerjee by 50,000 votes.

    Vijayvargiya in his tweet said “Mamata Banerjee has announced to contest assembly elections from Nandigram.

    But, she did not say that she will contest from here only! If she is confident of her victory, make this announcement too! Otherwise, it will be understood that you do not trust Nandigram!”.

    BJP national secretary Anupam Hazra said if TMC did not announce it now, it will be understood that that Banerjee will fight the election from more seats.

    “If Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is sure of her victory in Nandigram she should announce that she will contest only from the seat.

    This way she cannot deny her statement on the issue ater.

    Or else it is not unknown what they (TMC) will do next,” he posted on the micro blogging site.

    The TMC shot back saying “Why is BJP scared of declaring its Nandigram candidate? Or even its CM face? Mamata Di (eder sister as she is called by TMC workers and leaders) is TMC’s face for all the 294 seats.

    “BJP should first announce whom they will field against Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram.

    We are all set to win big,” it said in a statement.

    After having a limited presence in the politically polarised state for decades, the BJP has emerged as TMC’s main rival.

    It had won 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections in West Bengal.

    The saffron party leaders are upbeat that the party will be able to end Banerjee’s 10-year rule in the state polls.

    Election to the 294-member state Assembly is due in April-May next year.

  • Mamata-Suvendu face-off communally divides Nandigram

    The scene of one of the bloodiest and most traumatic movements against land acquisition by a government for industrialisation, Nandigram of today stands polarised along communal lines.

  • Suvendu Adhikari’s office in Nandigram vandalised by TMC, alleges BJP

    By ANI
    EAST MIDNAPORE (West Bengal): Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers have vandalised BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s office (Sahayak Kendra) in Nandigram area on Saturday night, the BJP has alleged.

    The BJP has demanded the arrest of persons behind the incident.

    “We protest against an incident caused by TMC Harmad cadres at Nandigram. We want to say them what they are doing these things by using muscle power. Today’s administration is with you that’s why you are doing so,” BJP leader Kaniska Panda said.

    “We told the administration if they won’t take action and won’t arrest accused persons then the administration will be responsible for the incidents which will happen future. I am giving the challenge that our fight against this fight will be continued,” he added.

    However, TMC East Midnapore district vice president SK Sufian said that the “old” BJP workers are responsible for the incident.

    “They (BJP) always lie and they make habit of lying, they tore TMC flag and Mamata Banerjee’s picture was burnt. Suvendu Adhikari’s Sahayak Kendra vandalised by old BJP workers who were present in the meeting and made allegations against TMC. They should control their own house rather than blaming TMC,” he said.

    Adhikari, a former minister in the TMC government was among several leaders who joined BJP last year ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls.