KOLKATA: The Trinamool lea- dership on Thursday called PM Narendra Modi’s jibe that CM Mamata Banerjee “had conceded defeat” in Nandigram “laughable and weird” and questioned why he was trying to influence voters in Nandigram.
“We would urge the PM not to denigrate his chair and hope he refrains from such things in future,” former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, also a Trinamool vice-president, told reporters at Trinamool Bhawan. “Mamata Banerjee is winning with a huge majority in Nandigram and is set to return to form the government with 200-plus seats. A desperate BJP is peddling lies and misinformation. We demand that the PM withdraws his statement and apologises,” said Trinamool MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray.
“BJP’s claim of winning around 80% of the 60 seats that went to polls on Phase 1 and 2 is laughable. Even if they win 25%-30% of the seats (in both phases) they should consider themselves lucky.”
Trinamool MP Derek O Brien dubbed the PM’s statement a “cheap shot”. “If they are so in love with Bengal, why doesn’t the PM or home minister file a nomination from here? There is still time for the last date for the last phase of polls,” he said.
Ray, who along with other party seniors, has been camping in Nandigram, said, “BJP has played all its tricks. The central forces and police had hounded our party leadership, forcing them out of their homes. This is despite court orders. Even on Thursday, party poll agents were not allowed in a few booths. Despite this, the CM will win with a huge majority and her opponents will have no face to hide. A lot of women have voted for her.”
Trinamool’s Mahua Maitra tweeted: “Contesting from second seat? Yes Mr PM, she will. And it will be Varanasi! So, go get your armour on.”