KOLKATA: Trinamool on Thursday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s jibe that chief minister 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 Prime Minister 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.
“Chief minister 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 apologizes,” said Trinamool MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray.
“BJP’s claim of winning 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 the two phases) they should consider themselves lucky.”
Party 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 the elections,” he said.
Ray, who along with other party seniors, has been camping in Nandigram, said, “The BJP has played all its tricks. Central forces and police hounded our party leadership. 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.”
“A lot was said about section 144, deployment of central forces in Nandigram. Still, we saw what happened. Attempt by outsiders to instigate violence were stopped in a people’s resistance. The BJP and its candidate, sensing imminent defeat, have become desperate,” Ray said.
Sinha said, “The EC usually bans publicity and campaigns 36 hours before polls. But with campaigning being allowed in other places, any statement made elsewhere will reach the people casting their votes at a faraway constituency. When the Prime Minister referred to Nandigram, what message was he trying to send out? Was he trying to influence voters? Doesn’t he have any faith in the people in Nandigram?”
Trinamool MP Mahua Maitra tweeted: “Contesting from second seat? Yes Mr Prime Minister, she will. And it will be Varanasi! So, go get your armour on.” Sinha said, “I am awaiting Amit Shah’s prediction about the 30 seats going to polls on Thursday. Will it be 35 or 40 out of 30, for BJP? After the 3rd phase, he may declare BJP has secured a majority and there is no need for further phases. EC will agree.”