PURULIA/MIDNAPORE: The Trinamool Congress came down heavily on Union home minister Amit Shah’s claim that BJP would win 200 seats in Bengal.
While TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee mocked the saffron party’s oft-used “Ab ki baar...” slogan, saying, “Ab ki baar 200 par nahi, ab ki baar 200 me haar (This time around, you will not win in 200 seats, you will lose 200 seats)”, chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that police forces were being “selectively sent” from BJP-governed states for the polls, in order to “grab votes”.
Abhishek said the TMC would go on to win 250 seats. “Keep daydreaming”, he told Shah at a rally in Keshpur on Tuesday.
The chief minister questioned the manner in which police forces were being sent for the Bengal polls. “You are sending Uttar Pradesh police. Why? To grab votes. You are selectively sending police from BJP-governed states,” she said at a rally in Purulia.
She also took exception to the fact that central agencies in poll-bound states would not be under the Election Commission, like state administrations are. Vowing not to “cede an inch” to the BJP, she urged party workers to keep month-long vigil of EVMs.
Along with central forces from CRPF, BSF, CISF, SSB, ITBP and RPF, 50 companies of armed police from UP and MP will be arriving in Bengal for the polls that begin on March 27, said sources.
“They (the Centre) have a lot of agencies. During elections, the entire state administration comes under the EC. So, why shouldn’t the central agencies in the five states (which are going to the polls) be under the EC? In addition, you are sending police from BJP-governed states,” the CM said.
Her statements come after after several central agencies — CBI, Enforcement Directorate, and even the NIA — have started summoning senior state officials and TMC candidates in connection with various cases. “Every day, TMC is being harassed (by the agencies),” the CM said.
Abhishek said at the rally that Shah had “lost his mind”. He said Shah had declared in Gosaba that the Sunderbans would be a separate district and get rupees two lakh crore.
“Bengal has 23 districts, Sunderbans will then be the 24th. If they spend the same for all districts, they will need to spend around Rs 50 lakh crore for Bengal. The state has around 10 crore people. This means, everyone of you would get Rs five lakh immediately. Let them do it now, and Trinamool will not contest the elections. We contest to work for people. If people get Rs 5 lakh, people win. Let him do what he says.”
The CM alleged she had seen a video in which “the BJP’s Jhargram candidate is offering money for votes. Oder bolun 500 taka cash chai na, bina poisar gas chai. (Tell them you don’t want their Rs 500, but free cooking gas.) You them you want petrol and diesel at lower prices; you want kerosene, adding, “Take the money they offer but vote for TMC. It is your money they are giving you back for votes.... Every time before elections, they make tall promises. First ask them why Rs 500 or Rs 1,000, they should give you the Rs 15 lakh in your bank accounts first. I have information that some (TMC) polling agents have been offered Rs five lakh to ‘help with votes’. Yes, they will help. They will help you so much that you will never return to Bengal. If they keep doing this, lodge a complaint with the Election Commission.”
She told party workers that the BJP would try out underhand tactics to win and “loot” votes. “Do not to accept food or tea from unknown persons, as they will intoxicate or sedate you, and tamper with your votes when you fall asleep and flee”, she warned them, adding, “They also have a lot of agencies with them.”
Urging them to be vigilant at all times, she said: “Police may ask you to go away when you keep vigil of the EVMs. Tell them politely to do their work and you keep doing yours. Every vote is important. Protect the EVMs. BJP will try to loot votes. If anyone offers you biryani, refuse it. Have home-cooked food for all these days. Who knows, the food being offered may be poisoned or drugged.”
Trying to establish a direct connect with people, the CM said: “Amar upor abhiman kore BJP ke vote-ta deben na. (Do not vote for BJP even if you are angry with me). They may be different candidates, but you are voting for me. Every vote of yours helps candidates win and will allow me to the form the government. I have come to you with an injured leg today to plead with you not to let BJP enter your homes. They will destroy all that we value.... You had voted for BJP in the Lok Sabha. What has your MP done? He spends most of his days in Jamshedpur or Dhanbad. It is I who work for you night and day. If you want me to work for you, you must vote for us. This is not an election for Delhi, but an election for Bengal.”