News Analysis India

Tag: Trinamool Congress

  • TMC pushed us away to give an edge to Abhishek Banerjee, says Sisir Adhikari

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: Putting rest to speculation of his joining Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sisir Adhikari, veteran Trinamool Congress on Wednesday said that he is ready to join the party if his son, Suvendu Adhikari, BJP’s candidate from Nandigram asks him to. He alleged that his family has been driven out of TMC to give an edge to ‘Bhaipo’ (Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Benerjee).

    “Wherever my son decides, I will go there,” said senior Adhikari while speaking to ANI.

    An ardent Trinamool man, Adhikari said he is shocked that his family has been driven out of TMC to give an edge to ‘Bhaipo’ (Mamata’s nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Benerjee).

    “I am not a man to go there. We are TMC people. They pushed us away. From last December, we have been abused. I am very much shocked at how the party treated us. She (Mamata Banerjee) has targeted Suvendu to highlight Bhaipo. I will campaign for him,” said Adhikari.

    “My sons would know whether I would join BJP or not. I will support my son. If they ask me to go to PM Narendra Modi’s meeting, I would go. I will join if they ask me,” he said.

    Suvendu Adhikari, former TMC Minister is contesting against Banerjee in Nandigram, the seat going to voting on April 1.

    Launching a scathing attack on Mamata Banerjee, Sisir Adhikari said that the chief minister cannot claim the legacy of Nandigram as it was him and his family who fought the Nandigram battle.

    “We brought Mamata Banerjee from Bhawanipore to Nandigram,” said the TMC leader. He also attacked Banerjee for spreading lies about her leg injury.

    Responding to Banerjee’s claim that BJP has caused the injury and that earlier it was TMC now it is BJP who is attacking her, Adhikari said, “Can she open her bandage and show it to people of Nandigram. Can she show X-ray report and apologise to people of Nandigram.”

    “Does a mother or sister show her leg uncovered like this? Sharam Nahi hai (does not she have any shame) I respected her for what she had done. But today I am shocked. How far you can go for politics,” said Adhikari.

    The TMC chief on March 10, had alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning. Banerjee sustained “severe bone 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. She was discharged from the hospital on March 12.

    Elections to the 294-member state 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. 

  • Mamata Banerjee offered to be exchanged for 1999 IC 814 hostages, claims Yashwant Sinha

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, who has joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, on Saturday claimed that Mamata Banerjee had offered herself to be taken as hostage in exchange for passengers of Indian Airlines Flight 814, commonly known as IC 814, which was taken to Afghanistan’s Kandahar by Pakistan-backed hijackers in 1999.

    Addressing a press conference after joining the TMC, Sinha said, “Mamata Banerjee wanted to offer herself as a hostage in exchange for passengers of the hijacked plane in ‘Kandahar incident’ for the country.”

    ALSO READ| Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha joins TMC ahead of Bengal elections

    India had to release three terrorists, including Masood Azhar to ensure the hostages’ release. Sinha was the union finance minister at the time under the leadership of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

    The 83-year-old further said that the recent attack on Banerjee in Nandigram served as the “tipping point” behind his decision to join the TMC. “The tipping point was the attack on Mamata ji in Nandigram. It was the moment of decision to join TMC and support Mamata ji,” said Sinha.

    Sinha further lashed out at the BJP-led central government and said the latter believes in “crushing and conquering” ideas. “BJP during Atal Ji’s time believed in consensus but today’s government believes in crushing and conquering ideas. Akalis, BJD have left the BJP. Today, who is standing with BJP?” asked Sinha.

    In September 2020, Akali Dal had snapped its ties with BJP as they did not support the recently enacted farm laws. The resignation of the former cabinet minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal created a furore among the ties.

    West Bengal will witness eight-phased assembly polls beginning March 27. The counting will take place on May 2.

  • ‘Attack on Mamata part of deep-rooted conspiracy’: TMC delegation meets EC, demands high-level probe

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A TMC delegation met the Election Commission (EC) on Friday and demanded a high-level probe into an alleged attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram, while claiming that it was not an “unfortunate incident”, but a conspiracy.

    The six-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) met the full EC team, including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora, for over an hour and submitted a memorandum to it, highlighting how BJP leaders in West Bengal had threatened the chief minister through tweets and other remarks.

    ALSO READ | ‘Attack’ on Mamata: Bengal CM stable, responding well to treatment, says hospital

    “Injuries to Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram were not a result of an unfortunate incident but that of a conspiracy. The events leading up to the attempt on her life leave no doubt that the attack was part of a deep-rooted conspiracy,” TMC MP Saugata Roy told reporters after meeting the EC.

    In the memorandum, the TMC has made allegations against Suvendu Adhikari, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Nandigram in the upcoming state Assembly polls.

    “When an attempt was made on the life of Ms Banerjee, in which she was grievously hurt, to cover up the attack, eye-witnesses were planted, illustratively, eye-witnesses Chittaranjan Das and Debabrata Das, who testified that Ms Banerjee’s car was hit against an iron pillar, are associates of Suvendu Adhikari, BJP candidate from Nandigram,” the memorandum says.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party delegations on Thursday met the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) following the ‘attack’ on Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

    The TMC delegation consisting of MP Derek O’Brien, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Partha Chatterjee met the CEO at noon in the state election commission office at 21 NS Road in Kolkata.

    “We met the CEO today on the attack on the Chief Minister. We condemn the way election commission remained alienated on state’s law and order situation,” Partha Chatterjee told reporters here after submitting a complaint copy to the CEO.

    The delegation also raised the issue of the removal of the Director General of Police (DGP) Virendra. ECI on March 9 in its letter had stated that the DGP should not be given any post which directly or indirectly related to the conduct of the election.

    “On March 9, the EC changed the DGP. On March 10, a BJP MP posted on social media – ‘aap samajh jayenge, 5 pm ke baad kya hone wala hai’ and it happened to Mamata Didi at 6 pm. We condemn these incidents and this kind of behaviour and want the truth to prevail,” O’Brien said.

    “It was in such poor taste that within 30 minutes, there were other kinds of statements. We condemn those statements. Talk to doctors and see what happened,” he added.

    After the TMC representatives left, 30 minutes later, a BJP delegation comprising of Sabyasachi Dutta and Shishir Bajoria met the CEO.

    “Where is the ambulance? CM convoys have an ambulance. Which was the hospital that is generally allotted to the Chief Minister in case of emergency? Why she had to travel to Kolkata? The TMC said it happened after the ECI took over but what were the four IPS doing?” the BJP said.

    Responding to TMC’s allegations against the ECI regarding the law and order situation in the state, the BJP said that it is like attacking a soft target and requested Mamata Banerjee to go to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

    “We are shocked to see CM was injured while in Nandigram wherein she has alleged that she was pushed by some people. We request that a detailed enquiry is ordered,” read BJP’s memorandum.

    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 campaign.She was later 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 Mamata in hospital, TMC supporters protest across Bengal

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress supporters took to the streets across West Bengal, protesting against the alleged attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram on Wednesday evening.

    TMC supporters raised slogans against the BJP and protested at various places, including Sovabazar and Chetla in Kolkata, and Bally in Howrah.

    Protests were also held at Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman, Jalpaiguri, North 24 Parganas, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur.

    ALSO READ: Mamata Banerjee injured in Nandigram, taken to hospital

    “We will continue the protests as our leader was mercilessly attacked in Nandigram. Until now, TMC supporters were being attacked, but today they dared to attack the chief minister,” a TMC supporter at the Chetla protest site said.

    In some areas, TMC workers also burnt tyres and blocked roads.

    A large number of TMC supporters gathered at the state-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata as Banerjee was rushed to the medical facility from Nandigram, following the attack.

    The TMC supporters raised “go-back” slogans as Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar reached the hospital to visit Banerjee.

    Similar slogans were also raised when Dhankhar left the hospital after enquiring about the health of the chief minister.

    The governor spent more than half-an-hour at the hospital.

    Banerjee, who was campaigning in Nandigram in the Purba Medinipur district over the last two days for the upcoming assembly elections, was allegedly attacked in the evening.

    Banerjee claimed that she was attacked by four-five men at Birulia, leading to a severe injury on her left leg, which has swollen.

    The opposition parties, including the BJP, CPI(M) and Congress, claimed that it was a “tactic to gain sympathy” ahead of the elections.

  • 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: TMC faces fresh spate of defections; 5 sitting MLAs, other leaders join BJP 

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress on Monday lost five more sitting MLAs and the control of the Malda Zilla Parishad to the BJP as defections continued to rock West Bengal’s ruling party ahead of the assembly polls.

    Four-time MLAs Sonali Guha, a close associate of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee for decades, and 80-year-old Rabindranath Bhattacharya, a prominent face of the Singur movement, joined the saffron party after they were denied the poll ticket.

    Another four-time legislator, 85-year-old Jatu Lahiri, and former footballer Dipendu Biswas, a first-time MLA, also switched sides after their names did not feature in the TMC’s candidate list released on March 5.

    They were handed over party flags by BJP state president Dilip Ghosh in presence of other leaders such as Suvendu Adhikari and Mukul Roy.

    One more TMC MLA, Sital Sardar.

    also joined the saffron party later.

    Hours after being replaced due to “ill health”, Sarala Murmu, the TMC candidate of the Habibpur constituency in Malda district, too switched sides.

    There was speculation earlier that she might join the BJP as she did not get the seat she had desired.

    The party replaced her with Pradeep Baskey in the morning.

    A number of sitting TMC MLAs, including ministers, have joined the saffron camp in recent months.

    The BJP also took control of the 38-member Malda Zilla Parishad after its 22 members changed sides.

    Bengali actress Tanusree Chakraborty also joined the BJP. Assembly elections in the state will be held in eight phases between March 27 and April 29.

    Votes will be counted on May 2.

  • TMC, Left candidates begin campaigning for West Bengal Assembly elections

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress and Left candidates kick-started their campaigns for the West Bengal elections on Saturday.

    While the TMC announced the list of candidates for 291 seats on Friday, the Left named nominees for 39 seats that are going to polls in the first phase.

    TMC’s Ashokenagar candidate Dhiman Roy began door-to- door campaigning in the morning.

    The party’s Jadavpur candidate Debabrata Majumdar also visited the voters in the area.

    CPI(M)’s Jhargram nominee Madhuja Sen Roy also campaigned in her constituency.

    In Behala, TMC supporters were seen busy painting wall graffitis in the support of the party’s two candidates from the area — Partha Chatterjee (Behala West) and Ratha Chatterjee (Behala East).

    Ratna, who has been fielded by the TMC from the constituency of her estranged husband and BJP leader Sovan Chatterjee, began her campaigning by offering puja at her Parnasree home.

    “I will give my best efforts to win this seat. We all are working to make Mamata Banerjee our chief minister for the third time,” she said.

    Exuding confidence, TMC’s Labhpur candidate Abhijit Singha said it appeared that there was no opponent against him.

    “Last time, the party won by a margin of around 4,500 votes. Lets see what happens this time,” the leader from Birbhum said.

    West Bengal will be voting in eight phases, beginning on March 27.

    Votes will be counted on May 2.