News Analysis India

Tag: Trinamool

  • Saradha ghost returns as more officials, Trinamool candidates get summons ahead of polls

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  With the state heading towards the first of its eight-phase poll schedule, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) swung into action on Friday and issued summons to two IAS officers, including a principal secretary, former director general of police and security advisor of Mamata Banerjee’s government.

    Earlier on Friday, CBI interrogated two Trinamool Congress candidates in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam.

    Madan Mitra, who is contesting from Kamarhati constituency, and Jorasanko candidate Vivek Gupta appeared before CBI sleuths.

    Mitra, who has been fielded by the party from Kamarhati assembly constituency, was, in the past, arrested by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the case, and later granted bail.

    “I will always co-operate with the central agency. They summoned me and I visited their office. They asked questions and I replied,’’ said Mitra.

    Gupta, who is contesting the elections from Jorasanko seat, admitted that he knew Sudipto Sen, the owner of the blacklisted firm, and said he visited the ED office to submit income tax details.

    The ED issued summons to principal secretary B Gopalika, asking him to visit its office on March 24 in connection with a probe into the controversial 2017 disinvestment of the West Bengal government’s stake in Metro Dairy, which was India’s first public-private partnership in the dairy sector.

    The CBI summoned former IPS officers Surajit Kar Purkayastha and and Rajat Majumdar. Purkayastha is presently serving as security advisor to the state government, in connection with the Saradha scam.

    Sources in the agency said Purkayastha was seen attending an event organised by Saradha and delivering a speech.

    Majumdar, the former DGP of West Bengal, was earlier apprehended by the CBI in the chit fund case.

    The Calcutta High Court later granted him bail.

    The central agency also issued summons to IPS officer LN Meena, who was the commissioner of Asansol commissionerate, and IAS officer Arun Prasad, district magistrate of Bankura, in connection with a coal pilferage case.

    Shah to release Bengal manifesto on Sunday

    Union Minister for Home Affairs and former BJP chief Amit Shah will release the party’s manifesto for the West Bengal Assembly elections on Sunday.

    The manifesto has been prepared on the basis of an outreach programme in which public suggestions were taken, on the lines of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

    Shah will be on a one-day visit of West Bengal to release the manifesto.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Bengal polls: Mamata urges Left supporters to vote for Trinamool; CPM hits back

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday appealed to Left Front supporters to vote for TMC candidates in order to defeat the divisive BJP in West Bengal.

    She thanked the Left minded people in the state for coming out with the “no vote to BJP” campaign.

    Banerjee is facing one of the most difficult political challenges of her life.

    She is facing a stiff challenge from BJP in the coming state poll after helming West Bengal for a decade.

    “It is imperative for the sake of the state to stop BJP from coming to power in Bengal. I would like to thank my Left minded friends for coming out with the no vote to BJP campaign.”

    ALSO READ | Bengal polls: Jhargram’s elderly woman casts first vote through doorstep facility

    “At the same time I would like to tell them that since the Left cannot come to power, its supporters should not waste their votes by casting it in favour of LF.”

    “Instead the LF supporters should vote for TMC to defeat the BJP, Banerjee told reporters while releasing her partys election manifesto.”

    Her comments come in the backdrop of several TMC leaders openly asking the Left parties to come out in support of TMC to stop the saffron party’s march in the state.

    The CPI-M led Left Front has rejected the appeal and blamed the ruling TMC for the rise of the saffron camp in West Bengal.

    ALSO READ | Bengal polls: BJP names candidates for four seats for third phase

    “Unfortunately, Bengal is now witnessing a threat from outsiders who want to foster divisive mentality and disrupt harmony. It is imperative for us to avert this threat. I promise that I will stand by each and every person of Bengal across all communities to protect their fundamental rights, she said. I will be forever indebted to my motherland. Being a daughter of Bengal I have dedicated my whole life for the state,” Banerjee added.

    She called BJP a political virus and slammed the Centre for trying to destroy the federal fabric of the state.

    “Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP is running an elected government in Delhi. Yet the Centre is trying to give more powers to the Lt Governor, who is nominated. We condemn such actions,” she added.

    She also said on Wednesday that Lord Ram worshipped Goddess Durga as she is much superior to him.

    Addressing the people of Jhargram and Binpur constituencies at a poll rally here in Jhargram district which has a sizeable Adivasi population, she claimed that the BJP will not allow them to take the name of ‘Marang Buru’, whom the Santhals consider as the supreme source of power, but they will have to chant “Jai Shri Ram” (Glory to Lord Ram).

    “They (BJP) are saying that you will not be able to practise your religion, you will have to chant Jai Shri Ram. But you will not be able to say Jai Siya Ram,” Banerjee said.

    “Ram performed the puja of Devi Durga (in the Ramayana). Maa Durga is much superior to Ram, that is why he worshipped Maa Durga,” the West Bengal chief minister told the meeting.

    ALSO READ | Bengal polls: Another police observer arrives in state, Howrah SP removed

    BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told an election rally on Tuesday that Banerjee gets livid at the chant of Jai Shri Ram and now she has started visiting temples and is reciting ‘Chandi path’, an ode to Goddes Durga.

    On the BJP’s accusation that her government created hurdles in the immersion of the idol of goddess Durga, Banerjee said that the Trinamool Congress dispensation gave Rs 50,000 to each club for performing the Durga puja, the biggest festival of the state.

    Alleging atrocities on women in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, she claimed that it is a party of Duryodhana and Dushasana, villainous characters in the Mahabharata.

    Apparently referring to the saffron partys allegation that the TMC is pursuing the politics of appeasement of minorities, Banerjee said her government works with the people of all religions and castes for the development of the state.

    The TMC boss alleged that the BJP creates rift between people on religious lines.

  • Bengal polls: Trinamool, BJP opt for star appeal in youth connect, Left welcomes activists

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: Bengal’s two main political forces, Trinamool Congress and BJP, are banking on the star appeal of young Bengali actors to win a few constituencies.

    Most of their young candidates are from the world of films and TV serials.

    The Left in contrast has chosen a different path.

    After being criticised for years for being unable to unearth new faces, CPI(M) has fielded a number of youngsters, mostly present or former leaders of the party’s student wing.

    Among the seven young faces of CPI(M), Aishe Ghosh and Dipsita Dhar are research scholars of Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University and known as firebrand student leaders.

    The rest are prominent faces visible in recent movements against the Centre and state government.

    Continuing the trend in Bengal politics introduced by TMC in 2011, the ruling party has fielded eight actors. Following in its footsteps, BJP have pitted five from the Bengali movie and TV serial circuit.

    For the Nandigram seat, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is taking on BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, CPI(M) has fielded the 36-year-old Minakshi Mukherjee, state president of Democratic Youth Federation of India.

    ALSO READ | From JNU to Jamuria: Aishe Ghosh to test her brand of politics in Bengal polls

    “The youth, working class and women are hitting the streets against state-sponsored corruption,” said Minakshi.

    President of the JNU students’ union, who was injured in an attack on the campus, Aishe is contesting from Jamuria in West Burdwan.

    Dishita, a PhD scholar at JNU, is a candidate from Bally in Howrah. Pritha Tah, 28-year-old daughter of CPI(M) leader Pradip Tah who was murdered in 2012, is contesting from Bardhaman South.

    “It’s not about personal grief or hatred against the killers of my father. In communism, one doesn’t inherit any personal agenda. One inherits the will to fight against class oppression,’’ said Pritha.

    The CPI(M) has also fielded youth wing leaders Sayandeep Mitra and Monalisa Sinha in the Kamarhati and Sonarpur North constituencies, respectively.

    In contrast, TMC candidates chosen for their glamour quotient like Sayantika Banerjee, Sayani Ghosh, Kaushani Mukherjee and Soham Chakrabarty are rank newcomers in politics.

    In the elections held in Bengal from 2011, TMC often opted for actors. 

    Taking a leaf out of Mamata’s book, BJP too has given tickets to actors Anjana Basu, Payel Chakrabarty, Yash Dasgupta, Hiranmoy Chakrabarty and Anjana Basu.

    Taking on Basu in Sonarpur Dakshin is TMC’s Lovely Maitra, a face from TV serials. Political observers find inclusion of youngsters in CPI(M)’s list to be a new trend.

    “Young candidates have broader perspective. This may not secure satisfactory electoral dividend immediately, but in future it will deliver a message to the youth,’’ said Bishnupriya Dutta Gupta, a professor of political science.

  • 79 Bengal BJP leaders get VIP security amid ongoing protests from saffron party cadres

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: As many as 79 BJP leaders from West Bengal, including the turncoats and the new joinees, have been accorded VIP security by the Centre ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.

    While BJP leaders Jitender Tewari, Hirenmay Chattopadhyay, Yash Dasgupta and Sravanti Chatterjee have been assigned Y-category security of the CISF, actor-turned-politician Payal Sarkar got X-category security, officials said on Monday.

    Recently, the Centre accorded ‘Y+’ VIP security cover to veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, who recently joined the BJP.

    Officials said the security cover will be provided by the CISF that has a dedicated wing for this task, called the special security group (SSG).

    ALSO READ | ‘My one leg is enough to boot BJP out from Bengal’, says wheelchair-bound Mamata

    “Chakraborty has been given a ‘Y+’ cover and armed CISF commandos will accompany him during poll campaign in West Bengal,” a senior officer said. Earlier, those provided with the VIP security cover include new entrants to BJP-former cricketer Ashok Dinda, former TMC leaders and legislators Bansari Maity, Dipali Biswas, Baishali Dalmiya, Saikat Panja, Biswajit Kundu, Shilabhadra Dutta.

    BJP Lok Sabha MPs Kunar Hembram, Subhas Sarkar and Jagannath Sarkar and state committee member Krishnendu Mukherjee have also been provided with the central security cover.

    The Home Ministry decides the level of protection an individual needs based on inputs from intelligence agencies which include the IB and R&AW. 

    Meanwhile, protests were held on Monday outside the BJP’s office here and elsewhere across Bengal over the second list of poll candidates released by the party a day ago, laying bare the rift between old-timers and new entrants.

    Irate activists broke guard rails and demonstrated in front of the BJP’s Hastings office to stop party national vice president Mukul Roy and senior party leader Arjun Singh from entering its premises.

    A section of demonstrators even banged on the bonnet of Roy’s car and threatened to storm the office, as the police faced a difficult time controlling them.

    “We demand immediate withdrawal of TMC turncoat Mohitlal Ghati’s candidature in Panchla. We cannot accept him as a nominee,” one of the agitators said as she lay flat on the road outside the party office.

    In Hooghly district’s Singur assembly constituency, BJP activists locked up party functionaries in their office over the nomination of another TMC turncoat and sitting MLA Rabindranath Bhattacharya.

    The octogenarian leader switched camp after being denied a ticket by the ruling party.

    Around hundred BJP supporters in Raidighi assembly segment of South 24 Parganas held demonstrations all day in protest against the nomination of TMC defector Santanu Bapuli.

    “He was involved in attacks mounted on us, he had tried to crush the BJP,” a party supporter said.

    ALSO READ | ‘What about the agony of families of BJP workers killed in TMC rule’: Amit Shah to Mamata on her injury

    Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, party general secretary Arun Singh along with Union ministers from West Bengal, Babul Supriyo and Debasree Chaudhuri, released the names of 63 candidates for the third and fourth phase of polls, to be held on April 6 and 10.

    Massive protests erupted in various parts of the state following the announcement, with several leaders openly expressing dissatisfaction over the candidature of newcomers.

    In north Bengal, agitators took to the streets to oppose the nominations of former chief economic adviser to the government, Ashok Lahiri, from Alipurduar and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha turncoat Bishal Lama from Kalchini.

    “We don’t know who is this Ashok Lahiri and why was he nominated. Old-timers from Alipurduar are being ignored. Bishal Lama joined the party just two days ago and he was nominated. Local BJP workers will never accept this,” a saffron party leader, who did not wish to be named, said.

    Referring to the demonstrations, BJP spokesman Shamik Bhattacharya claimed “these are stray incidents.”

    “The BJP is growing in size, as more and more people join the party. The number of aspirants has also increased. There are bound to be some problems, but that will be addressed soon,” he added.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Bengal polls: Trinamool appoints Yashwant Sinha as party’s vice president

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha, who recently joined the Trinamool Congress, has been appointed the Vice President of the Mamata Banerjee-led party.

    The former union minister has also been made a member of the TMC national working committee as per the order issued on Monday by TMC General Secretary Subrata Bakshi.

    On March 13, Sinha joined the TMC in Kolkata ahead of the state Assembly polls.

    West Bengal will witness eight-phased Assembly polls beginning March 27.

    The tenure of the 16th Legislative Assembly of West Bengal will end on May 30 this year. A total of 7,34,07,832 voters will choose their representative for the 17th Legislative Assembly of West Bengal.

  • ‘Trinamool bhagao, BJP lao, Bangla bachao’: Smriti Irani coins slogan for Bengal polls

    By ANI
    WEST MEDINIPUR: Taking a jibe at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday said that the people of the state wanted ‘TMC (Trinamool Congress) bhagao, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) lao, Bangla bachao’.

    Addressing a public rally at Salboni to support Medinipur BJP candidate Samit Das, Irani claimed that Mamata had taken undue credit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s welfare schemes for the poor in the state.

    “PM Modi sent Rs 4 lakh crore from Delhi for the poor people and the development of the state, but Didi, when you were supporting the previous Congress governments at the Centre, how much money did you spent?… Didi has supported those who have looted India’s treasury and have raised their voices against the nation,” she said.

    “The people of Bengal have decided that it is time for Didi’s game to be over. The people want ‘TMC bhagao, BJP lao, Bangla bachao’,” she quipped.

    Irani also said that since coming to power, the Mamata-led state government, for the first time, disallowed immersion of Maa Durga idol and Saraswati Puja celebrations in West Bengal.

    “She is saying ‘Khela hobe’ (Game on), but the people are saying ‘Khela shesh’ (Game over)… The way elections are taking place, the whole country has become aware that the people of Bengal have decided that TMC will be departing this time. ”Pishi’ (Aunt) and ‘Bhaipo’ (Nephew) are going, and the BJP government is coming to Bengal,” she further mentioned, while also accusing her and TMC of playing with the dignity and life of Bengal’s women and the poor.

    She also urged the people to press the lotus button on March 27 and give their blessings to Das.

    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.

  • People of Bengal want ‘Vikas’ not ‘Khela’, will vote for Congress-Left alliance: Jaiveer Shergill

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Taking a jibe at Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of assembly polls in West Bengal, Congress leader and star campaigner of Congress Jaiveer Shergill on Sunday said that ‘jhol hobe’ corruption will certainly happen whether BJP comes or TMC returns to power.

    “Mamta Banerjee says ‘Khela hobe’ (Game on), while Prime Minister Narendra Modi says ‘Khela Shesh’ (the game is not over), but we say if BJP or TMC will come to power then only “Jhol Hobe”. People of Bengal want a change and therefore they will vote for the Congress-left alliance and then ‘vikas hobe’ (development will happen),” he said referring that the Congress party is fighting the election on the issue of development.

    Speaking to ANI about Congress’ agenda for the campaign in West Bengal, Shergill told ANI that people of Bengal are paying a heavy price for the political violence in the state.

    “BJP and TMC are doing politics; playing tug of war or engaged in mud-slinging politics. Congress’ main plan for Bengal is providing ‘Rojgar and Karobar’ (Jobs and Businesses), Congress is solely focused on bringing the wave of development, employment, and rural progress,” Shergill said.

    He said that today people of West Bengal are only seeing blots being created by BJP and TMC, but the only thing which Congress wants people to see is the spot of prosperity and development.

    West Bengal is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and the BJP in the fray. Congress is fighting the polls alliance with Left parties, and it will contest on 92 seats in the state. In the last assembly elections, Congress won 45 seats and claimed the berth of Leader of Opposition in the assembly.

    However, in the recent polls for Lok Sabha, the party managed to secure only two out of 42 seats in the state while BJP won 18 seats and secured the second position in West Bengal.

    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.

  • ‘Demand high-level probe’: Trinamool disagrees with EC’s ‘no attack’ on Mamata observation

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The TMC said on Sunday it disagrees with the Election Commission’s observation that there was no pre-meditated attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram and demanded a high- level probe into the incident, insisting the inquiry by election observers lacks credibility.

    However, party spokesperson Sougata Roy expressed satisfaction that the EC agreed that there were security lapses and took action against some officials.

    Earlier Sunday, the Election Commission concurred with the reports sent by its two special poll observers and the state government that there was no pre-meditated attack on the TMC supremo on Wednesday, indicating that her injuries were the result of a security lapse.

    The poll panel ordered that Director (Security) Vivek Sahay, an IPS officer, be removed from his post and placed under suspension immediately.

    The Superintendent of Police of Purba Medinipur Pravin Prakash was also suspended, while District Magistrate Vibhu Goel was transferred.

    “We disagree with the EC’s observation based on the report of special election observers that there was no attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The report of the election observers lacks credibility and fails to inspire confidence. We reiterate our demand for a high-level probe into the incident,” Roy said.

    ALSO READ | BJP asks EC to make Mamata Banerjee’s treatment history public

    Reacting to the removal of officials by the EC over security lapses, Roy said, “It is good that at least they have accepted that there were security lapses.

    “It is a welcome move that the EC has removed the officials over security lapses. At least they have taken some action. We had raised this question as to how there were lapses in the security of the chief minister,” he said.

    After reviewing the reports sent by its two special poll observers–Ajay Naik and Vivek Dube– and the state government, the EC concluded that Banerjee sustained injuries prima facie due to a lapse on the part of her security in- charge, sources in the poll panel said.

    ALSO READ | Mamata should apologise to Nandigram people for false claims over ‘attack’ incident: BJP MP Locket Chatterjee

    While Banerjee was using an ordinary vehicle, her director of security Vivek Sahay was in a bulletproof car when the incident took place.

    Also, no approval was taken from the returning officer of the area where the incident took place, the sources said.

    Due to this, poll officials could not deploy videographers or flying squads, they added.

  • 14 years of Nandigram violence: Ahead of Kolkata rally, Mamata says will fight against ‘anti-Bengal forces’

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said she is contesting from Nandigram to work along with members of Shaheed families against “anti-Bengal forces”, remembering the innocent villagers were killed in firing at Nandigram on March 14 in 2007.

    “On this day, in 2007, innocent villagers were killed in firing at Nandigram. Many bodies could not be found. It was a dark chapter in the history of the State. Heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives,” she tweeted.

    ”In memory of those who lost their lives in Nandigram, we observe March 14 as Krishak Dibas every year and give away the Krishak Ratna awards. Farmers are our pride and our government is working for their all-round development,” she said in another tweet.

    ”As a mark of respect and encouraged by my brothers and sisters of Nandigram, I am contesting Bengal Elections 2021 as an AITC candidate from this historic place. It is my great honour to be here and work along with members of Shaheed families against anti-Bengal forces,” she added.

    In 2007, several villagers were reportedly killed and many others sustained injuries during a protest over land acquisition for a special economic zone (SEZ) in Nandigram in East Midnapore district.

    ALSO READ | BJP has to win Bengal to expand ideological footprint, secure eastern borders: Dilip Ghosh

    The incident had sparked a national outrage and the Calcutta High Court had suo motu ordered a CBI probe.

    Banerjee, then the opposition leader, had spearheaded a movement against the Left Front government’s acquisition of arable land in Nandigram and Singur for industrialisation.

    Her party reaped rich dividends from the agitations, winning 50 per cent of the panchayat seats in 2008, bagging 19 Lok Sabha seats in 2009 and ending the 34-year-long Left Front rule in the state in 2011.

    Mamata Banerjee had been contesting polls from the Bhawanipore constituency. The BJP fielded former TMC leader Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram against Mamata Banerjee, setting the stage for a high-profile contest from the seat.

    Meanwhile, Trinamool on Sunday cancelled the election manifesto’s release which was scheduled for today. The next date will be announced later.

    Earlier, the manifesto was scheduled to be released on March 11. However, the release of the manifesto was cancelled following an alleged attack on Mamata.

    Banerjee will conduct a roadshow, days after sustaining injuries during election campaigning, on a wheelchair from Gandhi Murti to Hazra here today, Trinamool Congress (TMC) party sources said. She will address a public rally at Hazra this afternoon.

    It will be her first public appearance after she was allegedly attacked by some people in Nandigram earlier this week.

    On March 10, the Chief Minister, who was on a two-day visit to Nandigram from where she filed her nomination, alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning. Later, she was brought to Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital by road from Nandigram.

    ALSO READ | BJP firms up candidates, set to come out with all guns blazing in poll-bound states

    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.

    The Chief Minister was discharged from the hospital on March 12.

    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 PTI Inputs)

  • Bengal polls: Days after ‘attack’, Mamata to conduct roadshow on wheelchair in Kolkata on Sunday

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will conduct a roadshow, days after sustaining injuries during election campaigning, on a wheelchair from Gandhi Murti to Hazra here on Sunday, Trinamool Congress (TMC) party sources said.

    She will address a public rally at Hazra this afternoon.

    It will be her first public appearance after she was allegedly attacked by some people in Nandigram earlier this week.

    ALSO READ | BJP has to win Bengal to expand ideological footprint, secure eastern borders: Dilip Ghosh

    On March 10, the Chief Minister, who was on a two-day visit to Nandigram from where she filed her nomination, alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning.

    Later, she was brought to Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital by road from Nandigram.

    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.

    The Chief Minister was discharged from the hospital on March 12.

    “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has responded well to the treatment. The six-member board has re-examined her health condition. We have opened the plaster cast. Fresh plaster has been applied. She has been discharged with appropriate instructions, after her repeated requests. She has been advised to revisit after seven days,” the medical board of the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata told reporters.

    ALSO READ | BJP firms up candidates, set to come out with all guns blazing in poll-bound states

    On Friday, a delegation of six MPs of Trinamool Congress (TMC) met the Election Commission officials in the national capital to raise their concern over the Nandigram incident. “The events/actions leading up to the attempt on her life, leave no doubt that the attack was premeditated and part of a deep-rooted conspiracy,” read a letter by the TMC to the Election Commission.

    A BJP delegation also met the Election Commission of India and demanded an impartial probe into an alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee.

    Commenting on the incident, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused Mamata Banerjee of resorting to ‘nautanki’ (theatrics)

    “This is ‘siyasi pakhand’ (hypocrisy) to gain sympathy. Before polls, she (Mamata Banerjee) planned this ‘nautanki’ after sensing difficulties in Nandigram,” Chowdhury had said.

    BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya too on Saturday said that the attempt by Trinamool Congress to create controversy has backfired as the district administration as well as Election Commission has called the incident in Nandigram that resulted in an injury to Banerjee as an accident.

    “Reports of district administration and EC have called it an accident. Mamata ji has said that she was pushed. It’s a controversy between governance and administration. This attempt of stirring controversy and gain sympathy has backfired,” said Vijayvargiya after BJP’s central election committee meeting in Delhi.

    ALSO READ | BJP leader visits Sisir Adhikari at his residence, speculation rife over Trinamool MP’s next move

    “We are not worried. Those (TMC) who tried to use the wrong means to gain sympathy from people should be worried. They have been exposed,” he added when asked if Banerjee’s injury could swing voters in her favour.

    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.