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BJP accuses Mamata of model code violation, files complaint

Model Code of Conduct came into effect on March 16 after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls…reports Asian Lite News

BJP leader Shishir Bajoria on Sunday filed a complaint against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for violating the Model Code of Conduct with the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer.

According to Bajoria, the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee used abusive language against West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar and State BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari at a public meeting in Balurghat on March 6.

The BJP leader claims that Mamata Banerjee used “GADDAR” and “KULANGAR against Sukanta Majumdar and Suvendu Adhikari. The leader claims that this violates the Model Code of Conduct and calls for the intervention of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer, especially in light of the upcoming election in the state.

“On March 06, 2024, the Trinamool Supremo Mamata Banerjee during a public meeting in Balurghat, uttered abusive language against Sukanta Majumdar, President of Bharatiya Janata Party, West Bengal and also against Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the State of West Bengal by using the words as “GADDAR” and “KULANGAR”. Such abusive languages were uttered by Banerjee deliberately and intentionally in front of the public at large on the eve of the ensuing Loksabha Elections, in 2024,” Bajoria said in the letter to the CEC

Bajoria has requested the “West Bengal CEO to take immediate steps ensuring that the Chairperson of TMC Mamata Banerjee and also other members and/or workers of that political party are restrained from uttering and/or using any abusive languages against any BJP leader and workers in compliance of the guidelines of the MCC.”

Model Code of Conduct came into effect on March 16 after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls.

Polling for the Lok Sabha in Bengal will take place across all 7 phases, starting April 19. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 34 seats in the state, while the BJP had to settle for 2 seats. The CPI (M) won 2 seats, while the Congress bagged 4.

However, the BJP came up with a much-improved showing in the 2019 polls, winning 18 seats against the TMC’s 22. The Congress’s tally dropped to just 2 seats, while the Left scored a blank. (ANI)

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Didi to Resume Campaigning on March 31

The CM has almost recovered and is expected to restart campaigning on March 31 by addressing a rally at Dhubulia Mahua Moitra…reports Asian Lite News

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, who had stopped campaigning after she fell at her residence on March 14 evening and sustained an injury on her forehead which necessitated stitches, is likely to return to the poll trail soon.

Party insiders said that she has almost recovered and is expected to restart her campaigning on March 31 by addressing a rally at Dhubulia in Nadia district for Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency candidate, Mahua Moitra.

Though Krishnanagar is slated to go to polls in the fourth phase of the elections on May 13, Trinamool leaders say it was chosen to mark Mamata Banerjee’s return to campaigning as a substantial portion of its voters hail from the backward-class Matua community, who are refugees from Bangladesh settled in different pockets of West Bengal.

Since the Central government notified the implementation of the CAA, Matuas have been leaning towards the BJP, and Mamata Banerjee, in all probability, is re-beginning her campaign schedule there to reach out to the community.

Another reason why the Chief Minister is focussing on Krishnanagar is that ensuring the victory of Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha in connection with the cash-for-query case, has been taken as a prestige fight by her.

BJP has fielded Amrita Roy, a member of the erstwhile Krishnanagar royal family, thus making the contest tougher for Moitra considering the sentiment of the local population towards the royal family.

Party insiders said that during the rally on March 31, the Chief Minister is expected to devote a major part of her address to describing Moitra’s expulsion from the Parliament as a “reflection of vindictive politics pursued by BJP against Trinamool Congress”.

Star campaigners

In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, Trinamool Congress released a list of 40 star campaigners on Tuesday.

The list included West Bengal Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee, MP and party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, and former cricketer and candidate from Behrampore, Yusuf Pathan, among others.

TMC announced its list of 42 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections earlier on March 10.

Giving a message of TMC going solo in the Lok Sabha polls, party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee announced the list, which included certain surprises from former cricketers Yusuf Pathan from Berhampore and Kirti Azad from the Bardhaman Durgapur Lok Sabha seat.

Abhishek Banerjee will contest from Diamond Harbour. Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from Lok Sabha in the winter session last year has been given a ticket from Krishnanagar constituency.

Meanwhile, Mukut Mani Adhikari, who recently quit the Bharatiya Janata Party, has also been given a ticket from the Ranaghat Lok Sabha seat.

Shatrughan Sinha is set to again contest from Asansol, a seat he had won earlier in the 2022 bypoll.

TMC has fielded Jagadish C Basuniya from Cooch Behar, Prakash Chik Baraik from Alipurduar, Nirmal Ch Roy from Jalpaiguri, and Gopal Lama from Darjeeling.

On the announcement of the candidates, Trinamool Congress said that the ruling party in Bengal will stand with the common people as part of its committment.

“Under the leadership of Chairperson @MamataOfficial, we’re pleased to announce the names of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. We are steadfast in our commitment to stand by the common people against the deprivation of the Central Govt. When it comes to confronting the @BJP4India jomidars head-on and responding in the language they understand best, the Twin Flower is people’s only choice!,” TMC posted on X.

Bengal will vote to elect 42 Lok Sabha members across all seven phases of the general elections that are scheduled to begin on April 19 and will end on June 1. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4.

In the previous Lok Sabha polls, the TMC won 22 seats while the BJP sprung a major surprise, winning 18 seats. (IANS/ANI)

TMC Moves ECI Against Dilip Ghosh

Trinamool Congress on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) through the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal against BJP’s Bardhaman-Durgapur candidate, Dilip Ghosh, accusing him of using derogatory comments about Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a briefing of media persons.

In the complaint forwarded to the office of CEO, West Bengal, the ruling party has accused Ghosh, also the former state president of BJP West Bengal, of casting aspersions about the Chief Minister’s family lineage.

According to Trinamool Congress, such comments on the part of Ghosh were a clear violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) which disallows any political party or candidate from indulging in any activities or making any statements that would amount to an attack on the personal life of any person or statements that may be malicious or offending decency and morality.

In the letter to the CEO, West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress leadership has also requested the former to issue directions refraining Ghosh and other BJP candidates or leaders from making such personal comments against the Chief Minister or any other leader or candidate of Trinamool Congress.

Trinamool Congress has also requested the CEO, West Bengal to initiate immediate action against Dilip Ghosh for blatant violation of the MCC.

Meanwhile, Dilip Ghosh opened up about his controversial remarks on Mamata earlier and said that he had no personal dispute or grudges against the Bengal Chief Minister.

Speaking to the media about his remarks on Mamata Banerjee, Dilip Ghosh said, “This is not the first time that I have faced controversy over my statement, because I speak in front of those who commit injustice. Regarding the statement, I gave with regard to the Honourable Bengal Chief Minister, I would like to say that I do not have any personal dispute, grudges or ill will towards her.”

“I had merely countered and questioned the political statements she has given to mislead people. The question is that many people have objections to my use of language and words. Our (BJP) party as well as other parties have called it unparliamentary. If so, I am sad about it,” he said.

Adding further, the BJP leader questioned why objections were not raised when a party leader from TMC had used foul language against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.

“I also want to question why no objections were raised when a TMC leader used abusive language against our senior party leader Suvendu Adhikari in Kanthi. Does our party leader have no honour? His father is a senior leader who is still alive. Kya unka maan sammaan nahi hai (is he not respected?). No one raised any objections on that note. Why was no statement given from TMC at that time? said Ghosh.”

“I have given a political statement. The issue of honour is raised only if it is a woman. The women’s card is brought out again and again. I had just responded to that. I have nothing more to say than this,” stated Ghosh.

Adding further he said, “I will give an official reply to any official letter sent to the party or anyone else.”

This comes after earlier, while addressing reporters in Durgapur, BJP MP Dilip Ghosh said that wherever Mamata Banerjee goes, she calls herself the daughter of that state, and “she must identify her own father.”

“When Didi (CM Mamata Banerjee) goes to Goa, she calls herself the daughter of Goa. When she goes to Tripura, she says that she is the daughter of Tripura. She should first identify her own father.” Dilip Ghosh said.

Meanwhile, BJP President JP Nadda issued a notice seeking clarification from the party leader Dilip Ghosh regarding his remarks on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

ALSO READ-Didi buries Cong alliance hopes

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Mamata Meets Sri Lankan President in Dubai

On Tuesday, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee departed for Madrid, Spain to participate in a three-day business summit…reports Asian Lite News

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe at Dubai International Airport and she invited him to the Bengal Global Business Summit 2023 to be held in Kolkata.

She called her interaction with Ranil Wickremesinghe “pleasant.”

Banerjee also said that the Sri Lankan President extended her an invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Banerjee stated, “His Excellency The President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe saw me at the Dubai International Airport Lounge and called me to join for some discussion. I have been humbled by his greetings and invited him to the Bengal Global Business Summit 2023 in Kolkata. HE the President of Sri Lanka extended cordial invitation to me to visit Sri Lanka. It was a pleasant interaction with deep implications.”

Notably, the ties between India and Sri Lanka are more than 2,500 years old and both sides have built upon a legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic interaction, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. In recent years, the relationship between the two nations has been marked by close contact at the highest political level, growing trade and investment, cooperation in development, education, culture and defence sectors, as well as a broad understanding on major issues of international interest.

On Tuesday, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee departed for Madrid, Spain to participate in a three-day business summit.

Before boarding the flight, Mamata Banerjee said, “We are going to Spain after 5 years. Spain was a partner during the Kolkata Book Fair. Spain has a prosperous manufacturing industry. We are going at their invitation. Let us see what progress can be made.”Bengal Business Summit is scheduled to be held on November 21-23.”

She further added, “Spain officials have visited Bengal many times but we have not reciprocated in the same way. So I am leaving for Spain. In Dubai also we have a business summit.”

The West Bengal CM hoped for a positive outcome from the business summit in Spain. (ANI)

ALSO READ- Sri Lanka Fully Aware Of India’s Security Concerns: Envoy

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Mamata, Stalin to attend all-party meet on G20 presidency

K Keshava Rao of TRS told, “We do not have any information about our leader attending the meeting on Monday.”..reports Asian Lite News

As India takes over the presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022, heads of political parties will attend a meeting convened by the central government tomorrow to discuss the way forward.

As per government sources, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool congress president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Telugu Desam Party president Chandrababu Naidu and Biju Janata Dal president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik are amongst those who will attend the meeting on Monday evening at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Amid the political war between the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and BJP, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is unlikely to attend the meeting.

“I have spoken to all the leaders and party presidents personally. However, as of now, we have no confirmation from some leaders including KCR,” Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told ANI.

“This is a meeting in which the party presidents were only invited and therefore we have requested them to attend. No representatives would be attending on behalf of presidents,” Joshi added.

K Keshava Rao of TRS told ANI, “We do not have any information about our leader attending the meeting on Monday.”

YSR Congress president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy has already conveyed to the Centre his unavailability for Monday’s meeting.

“The President of India is visiting Andhra Pradesh and therefore we will not be able to attend a meeting in Delhi,” YSR parliamentary party leader Vijaysai Reddy told ANI.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) will not be attending this meeting because the party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is currently undergoing medical treatment in Singapore. So far the government has no confirmation from the Janata Dal (United) whether Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will be attending the meeting.

Pertinent to mention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to chair the meeting. Further, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Leader of House in Rajya Sabha and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are likely to be present on behalf of the government. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi who is coordinating the entire meeting will also be present.

The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman addressing at the ICRIER’s 14th Annual International G20 Conference on ‘Crafting an Indian narrative on Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Economy’, in New Delhi on November 01, 2022.

During this meeting, a detailed presentation will be made for the political parties for the lead-up to the G20 presidency for India and what it means for the coming year.

The first G20 Sherpa meeting under India’s presidency started in Rajasthan’s Udaipur on Sunday. This is the first of the 200 such meetings that will take place across 55 cities in India over the next year.

Indonesia had earlier this month handed over the G20 presidency to India in the presence of PM Modi for the coming year at the Bali summit.

The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies.

India formally assumed G20 Presidency from Indonesia on December 1. (ANI)

ALSO READ-India’s G20 Presidency will boost global economy, says Pichai

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Mamata has a warning for BJP for Presidential poll

The Presidential election is conducted through an electoral college with Parliament and legislative assembly members casting their votes in order of preference for the candidates in fray…reports Asian Lite News

Though the BJP won four states in the recent Assembly polls but winning the Presidential election will not be an easy task for it because they don’t have even half of the legislators of the country, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday.

In her reply on the discussion on the budget in the Assembly, she said: “The BJP may have won elections in four states but not even half of the country’s legislators, who elect the President of India, belong to the party. It will not be easy for the BJP to win this election. The game is not over yet.

“Those who don’t have even half the number of legislators in India should not make tall claims.”

“Regional forces, such as the Samajwadi Party, may have been defeated but they are stronger now,” said Banerjee, noting that her ally in Uttar Pradesh controls 111 of the state’s 403 seats, 64 more than its tally in the last polls.

“Opposition parties have more MLAs across the nation. The country is fighting the party at the Centre,” she added.

The Presidential election is conducted through an electoral college with Parliament and legislative assembly members casting their votes in order of preference for the candidates in fray.

The number and value of votes of each voter from the state legislatures is worked out by a formula which takes into account the population of the state in 1971.

Criticising the BJP government at the Centre over the ‘Pegasus’ issue, Banerjee claimed that her phone is also being tapped, and she also had received an offer to buy the spyware but had declined it.

“My phone is being tapped. If we talk about anything, they will come to know. Three years back, I had also got an offer to buy Pegasus. But I did not buy it. I don’t believe in interfering in privacy and curbing freedom of speech. But several BJP-ruled states had bought Pegasus,” she said.

Amid slogans of the opposition on the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, the Chief Minister said: “Inefficiency of one or two people does not determine the effectiveness of the entire police force. The police are conducting thorough investigations. Nobody will be spared.”

“The police will not take into account the political background of any suspect. They will take strong action,” she said.

“The opposition did not say a word to condemn the murder of TMC councillor Anupam Dutta at Panihati in North 24 Parganas. Tapan Kandu, the other councillor who was murdered, belonged to the Congress,” she added.

ALSO READ-Mamata meets Sonia; discusses political situation, Pegasus

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Mamata’ national goals face setback

Mamata called for an opposition coalition without the Congress. “Nothing will work if we depend on the Congress,” she added….reports Asian Lite News

With Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sweeping the Punjab election, making its presence felt in Goa and positioning itself as a formidable opposition to the BJP in national politics, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees national ambitions seem to have hit a roadblock after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) dismal performance in the coastal state.

Mamata Banerjee does not have “national aspirations” and only wants to bring like-minded parties together to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, TMC leaders said, after the party’s high-profile campaign in the Goa assembly polls failed to make any impression.

The Chief Minister said after the results that the Trinamool Congress had just entered Goa three months before and the attempt was to make the name Trinamool known to the people of the state. The party will work hard in the future as the groundwork has just begun in Goa and the name of the party is now known in every household.

Trinamool leaders said on Saturday that the party has just started its Goa venture a few months back. “We have received 24 per cent in Tripura civic body polls while in Goa it was an attempt to make our symbol known in the last three months.” Trinamool Congress state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.

However, this didn’t stop Mamata from taking aim at the Congress. On Friday, she called for an opposition coalition without the Congress. “Nothing will work if we depend on the Congress. They are losing their capability. All the regional parties now have to come together and work,” she said while addressing a press conference in the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha.

Speaking about the Congress, West Bengal minister and senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim told reporters on Thursday that “the Congress is a grand old party but it’s failing to strike. It should merge with the TMC”.

After the AAP’s overwhelming victory in Punjab its convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal declared his national ambitions at a victory rally in Delhi. “Inquilab (revolution) came to Delhi first and then happened in Punjab. This revolution will spread across the country,” Kejriwal said on Thursday.

The AAP’s landslide victory in Punjab in its second outing in the state has given a push to the party leaders’ hopes of emerging as a national alternative to the ruling BJP and replacing the Congress as the principal opposition party. The AAP leaders have said the people of Punjab have given a chance to the “Kejriwal model of governance” and that the Delhi Chief Minister “will be the principal challenger of the BJP” in the future.

The AAP swept the Punjab polls by getting a three-fourths majority in the 117-member Assembly, pushing most of its rivals to the margins. The party had finished second behind the Congress in the 2017 elections in the state.

Established in November 2012, the AAP has been seeking to expand its footprint beyond Delhi and contested polls in Goa, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh in this round of state elections. It has won two seats in Goa getting 6.77 per cent of the votes. The party has now set its sights on the Assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh later this year.

“Mamata Banerjee single handedly defeated the BJP in the assembly polls and that created an impression that her fight against the BJP might make her the face of the opposition. With the Congress becoming more and more insignificant in national politics Mamata carried on with her ambitious national plan by launching the party in some major states like Tripura, Goa and Assam. The Trinamool Congress would have been more politically relevant if the party could have made some mark in the elections. The Trinamool Congress neither did well in Tripura nor in Goa and this has certainly created a question mark on her national leadership. It would be interesting to see how she comes out of regional attire and becomes relevant in national politics,” a senior political scientist said.

ALSO READ: Mamata writes to PM over Ganga erosion

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How Didi Beats Modi in West Bengal?

This is what the book explores as it examines why the BJP lost the plot in West Bengal and what this means for the next General Elections,” says Ghosal…reports Asian Lite News.

In the West Bengal elections of 2021, the longest state polls in the history of India, Mamata Banerjee won the khela, and the BJP lost the plot. How did this happen?

Political journalist Jayanta Ghosal, travelled to all the districts of West Bengal and unearthed certain key factors that helped the Trinamool win the state that he records in “Mamata Beyond 2021” (HarperCollins).

For instance, there was a massive gap in the BJP’s understanding of Bengali identity, which Banerjee was able to exploit. An ‘overdose’ of central intervention, ranging from paramilitary forces to intelligence agencies to target key TMC leaders, added to the BJP’s disconnect with voters. Increasingly, the state felt the divide between New Delhi and Bengal grow.

The book details how Banerjee was successfully able to portray herself as the ‘daughter of Bengal’ who worked tirelessly for the stat’s poor and disadvantaged. It also asks the question: with the state elections under her belt, what will be Banerjee’s path to the General Elections of 2024? Does she consider herself a candidate for the Prime Minister’s post?

“Is Mamata now the No 2 political brand in the country? What is her roadmap for 2024? This is what the book explores as it examines why the BJP lost the plot in West Bengal and what this means for the next General Elections,” says Ghosal.

According to the translator, Arunava Sinha, “This book asks some of the most important questions that will affect all Indians in the next two years leading up to the elections. Most importantly, whether Mamata Banerjee will pay a decisive role”.

“Mamata Banerjee is one politician that everybody is watching and curious about. From her sensational 2021 Bengal assembly win to her plans for 2024, this book goes beyond the headlines to bring us the true story of what makes Mamata Banerjee a fierce political opponent to the BJP in today’s India,” says Swati Chopra, Executive Editor, HarperCollins India.

Jayanta Ghosal, born in 1962, has been a political journalist for the past four decades. He has worked for the Bengali newspapers Anandabazar Patrika and Bartaman, TV channels ABP News, India TV, and is now consulting editor, India Today group. Most of his life has been spent in newsrooms. A journalist, writer, teacher and speaker, he is a student of the history, politics, and culture of West Bengal and eastern India. He has authored several books in Bengali about the region and is also a biographer of Mamata Banerjee.

Arunava Sinha translates classic, modern and contemporary Bengali fiction and non-fiction from Bangladesh and India into English. He also translates fiction from English into Bengali. Over sixty-five of his translations have been published so far in India, the UK and the USA. His recent translations include “The Sickle” by Anita Agnihotri, “Khwabnama” by Akhtaruzzaman Elias, and “Imaan” by Manoranjan Byapari. He was born and grew up in Kolkata, and lives and writes in New Delhi. He teaches at Ashoka University.

ALSO READ-JEALOUSY: Mamata slams Centre’s ‘No’ to Rome tour

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Mamata wins crucial bypoll, Trinamool sweeps other two seats too

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

In Jangipur, Hossain won by a margin of 92,480 votes while Amirul Islam won by a margin of 26,379 votes in Samserganj…reports Asian Lite News.

With West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee registering a thumping victory against BJP’s Priyanka Tibrewal in Bhabanipur, Trinamool Congress won in all the three constituencies that went for elections on September 30.

Trinamool’s Jakir Hossain and Amirul Islam won from Jangipur and Samserganj, respectively.

After 21 rounds of counting, Banerjee secured 85,263 of the total 118,580 votes, securing more than 71 per cent while Tibrewal secured 26,428 votes, little more than 22 per cent. CPI-M’s Shreejib Biwas managed to get only 4,226 votes.

For Banerjee, it was a do or die battle to retain her position as the Chief Minister because she had lost to the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram in the Assembly election earlier this year.

“I am indebted to the people to Bhabanipur because they helped me to win with a record margin. The most interesting thing is we didn’t lose in any of the wards. The polling in Bhabanipur has always been low and there was rain. Despite that people came out in numbers and gave us votes,” said Banerjee, flanked by nephew and party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and his daughter.

“There was a lot of conspiracy against us and the people of Bhabanipur have given the answer. When we won in all the seats, we lost in Nandigram. The matter is subjudice and so I shall not say more,” she said, adding: “I shall not show victory signs raising two fingers. I am not selfish. Two of my colleagues are contesting from Jangipur and Samserganj and so I shall raise three fingers. They are also leading and blessing them so that they can win.”

In Jangipur, Hossain won by a margin of 92,480 votes while Amirul Islam won by a margin of 26,379 votes in Samserganj.

Hossain secured 136,444 votes while his nearest rival Sujit Das of the BJP secured 43,964 votes. On the other hand, Amirul Islam secured 96,417 votes while his nearest rival Zaidur Rahaman from Congress secured 70,038 votes.

The BJP, however, cried foul.

Addressing the media, state BJP President Sukanta Majumdar said: “We need to understand that a large number of people couldn’t come to vote or they were not allowed to come to vote. But one thing we should keep in mind… Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee thought that she would wipe out the BJP from Bhabanipur but that has not happened.”

“We are overwhelmed by the support of the people – people who, despite all odds, have come out and voted for us. This will inspire us to fight with a new spirit in future. There are four by-elections in October and we hope that we will do better in these elections,” he added.

ALSO READ-JEALOUSY: Mamata slams Centre’s ‘No’ to Rome tour

READ MORE-If I don’t win, someone else will become CM: Mamata

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If I don’t win, someone else will become CM: Mamata

Political experts are of the opinion that the Chief Minister’s statement is an expression of her tension over the by poll…reports Asian Lite News.

In a significant statement, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said during her election campaign for the bypoll in Bhabanipur on Wednesday that if she doesn’t win the by-election, someone else will become the Chief Minister.

Speaking at a public rally, Banerjee said, “If I don’t win, someone else will be the Chief Minister. Give me your votes to keep me as the Chief Minister. Every vote is precious to me. Don’t waste them.”

Political experts are of the opinion that the Chief Minister’s statement is an expression of her tension over the bypoll.

“She has never been in this situation before and so she is worried about the outcome of the election. The data of previous elections in Bhabanipur also shows that she is not totally comfortable about her victory,” a political analyst said.

Labelling herself as the protector of the people, the Chief Minister said, “I was asked to contest from Nadigram where I had fought for the peasants’ movement, but you all know how I was defeated there. The case is lying pending before the court.

“You will all come to know what happened to me there. But now I am here… Perhaps this is fate. I cannot leave you. Every vote is valuable. So don’t waste your vote thinking that I shall win. If you don’t give your vote, I shall lose.”

Raising her ante against the BJP government at the Centre, Banerjee said, “I can call Modi-Shah grandfather, brother… It’s courtesy. But I will not accept the Taliban rule in the country. I will not let the country fall apart. I will not let the kingdom be torn to pieces. I will not allow division among the common people.”

“They are running the government in an autocratic manner. They have suddenly imposed Section 144 in Tripura only to stop us from conducting a rally. This cannot continue in a democratic country.

“If necessary, games will be played in the same manner in Tripura, Assam, Goa and Uttar Pradesh. Your vote will help stop the rioters. If you start the process here, you will see the result in Delhi. I shall go to any extent to fight this Talibanism,” she added.

ALSO READ-Mamata hits campaign trail, lashes out at BJP

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Mamata eyes alliance with Samajwadi Party in UP polls

Mamata

He said the Trinamool was focusing on building a strong organisational structure and cadre base in Uttar Pradesh…reports Asian Lite News.

The Trinamool Congress is looking towards an alliance with the Samajwadi Party for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, due early next year.

A decision on this is expected to be taken by the leaders of both the parties in the coming weeks.

The Trinamool has already launched its mass contact programme in Uttar Pradesh from Pilibhit where farmers had staged a protest on the issue of cane dues. At least two districts in each of the 18 divisions will be covered to gauge the mood of the people and their expectations.

Mamata

Trinamool state president Neeraj Rai said, “We will tell the people about the policies implemented by us in West Bengal and will seek public feedback on the welfare policies of the state government. We will prepare the manifesto of the Trinamool Congress based on the expectations of the people.”

He said the Trinamool was focusing on building a strong organisational structure and cadre base in Uttar Pradesh.

“The party has added 100 committed members in more than 30 districts through the membership drive launched in May. The party leadership wants a strong unit in UP with a committed workforce ahead of the 2024 General Elections. Wherever we go, people want to know how we defeated the BJP in West Bengal,” he added.

Sources in the Samajwadi Party said that the alliance with Trinamool could materialise since Akhilesh Yadav shares a warm rapport with West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee.

“Besides, she is now an opposition mascot who crushed communal forces in her state against all odds. Her campaign in UP will certainly boost the opposition in general,” said a SP spokesman.

No tickets for office-bearers in UP polls: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh has made it clear that no office-bearer at the state level or district level would be eligible to contest elections. The party has said that if anyone was keen to contest polls, he or she would have to step down from the party post.

State BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh has already warned party leaders not to put up hoardings in their respective constituencies and claim their candidature.

According to sources, BJP’s general secretary (organisation), Sunil Bansal made this rule amply clear at a party meeting.

A BJP leader, who was present in the meeting, said that Bansal’s directive became talk of the meeting in which there were ample indications that several sitting MLAs may not get the ticket again.

Party sources said that the performance of the party in the panchayat elections would be one of the factors that would decide the fate of sitting MLAs.

“The MLAs in whose constituency the party fared poorly in panchayat elections may not get a ticket. Besides, reports of the party’s internal surveys about a legislator’s performance, will also be a deciding factor,” a party functionary said.

The BJP, in the past, had declared that relatives of party leaders would not be given a chance to contest panchayat elections. However, the party later gave preference to the winnability factor and willingly gave tickets to sons, daughters and wives of its leaders.

“In politics, rules are made to be broken and finally, it is the winnability factor that ultimately matters. It is only the performance of a legislator that can dilute the anti-incumbency factor. The party is determined to repeat its 2017 performance of 300+ seats and winnability is all that will matter,” said the functionary.

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