Posted on

BJP released its list of candidates for the third and fourth phases of the West Bengal Assembly elections

Bengal-Bjp

On Sunday, BJP released its list of candidates for the third and fourth phases of the West Bengal Assembly elections, fielding several sitting MPs and TMC turncoats.

Names in the list include Union minister Babul Supriyo, BJP MPs Locket Chatterjee, Nisith Pramanik and Swapan Dasgupta; and former TMC leaders Rajib Banerjee, Rabindranath Bhattacharya, Prabir Ghoshal and Dipak Haldar. The BJP has also fielded popular Bengali actors Yash Dasgupta, Payel Sarkar and Tanushree Chakraborty, who recently joined the party.

Also See: Would West Bengal election really be a three-way fight after the defections?

BJP national general secretary Arun Singh announced names of the party’s candidates in 27 seats out of 31 for the third phase, and in 36 seats out of 44 going to polls in the fourth phase.

“Names for remaining seats in the third and fourth phases will be announced later,” said Singh, during a news conference at BJP headquarters in Delhi.

Union Minister Babul Supriyo, who is an MP from Asansol, will contest from Tollygunge constituency against TMC heavyweight leader and state minister Aroop Biswas. Standing party MP Locket Chatterjee will contest from Chuchura, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta will contest from Tarakeshwar and another MP Nisith Pramanik will contest from Dinhata.

Also See: What are the problem areas of TMC and the chances of BJP in this election season in West Bengal

TMC MLA and face of Singur anti-land-acquisition movement, Rabindranath Bhattacharya, who joined the BJP last week, has been fielded from Singur. Former state minister-turned BJP leader Rajib Banerjee will contest from Domjur, TMC MLA-turned BJP leader Prabir Ghoshal will contest from Uttarpara and TMC MLA-turned BJP leader Dipak Haldar will contest from Diamond Harbour seat.

Bengali actors Yash Dasgupta, Payel Sarkar, and Tanushree Chakraborty will contest from Chanditala, Behala Purba and Shyampur constituencies respectively. Television actor Anjana Basu will contest from Sonarpur Dakshin seat.

Also see: Trilateral fight in West Bengal election 2021

Reacting to the BJP’s candidate list, TMC spokesperson and MP Sougata Roy said, “It is clear from the list that the BJP does not have candidates to fight the Assembly polls and that is why it is relying on its sitting MPs. It has also given tickets to former TMC leaders and MLAs, which sends the same signal. The BJP is struggling to find candidates.”

Posted on

Response of Election Commission of India to complaint from TMC over injury to Mamata stated that the letter was full of insinuations and averments

ECI-TMC

Seemingly, the Election Commission of India is getting entangled in the political snafu, in the context of West Bengal election 2021, after the Nandigram incident, where CM Mamata Banerjee was injured.

Responding to the letter sent by Trinamool Congress over the Nandigram incident in which West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was injured yesterday, the Election Commission of India said that it was unfortunate that the letter was “full of insinuations and averments”.

“Completely incorrect to suggest that Commission has taken over law and order machinery in the state in the name of conducting elections and appropriated whole governance structure,” the poll body said, adding that the incident was “indeed unfortunate” and needs to be inquired into with “promptitude and dispatch”.

Also See: Would West Bengal election really be a three-way fight after the defections?

The poll body’s response comes after TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee held it responsible for the lapse in security of Mamata. A TMC delegation of Derek O’Brian, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Partha Chatterjee submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission in Kolkata.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry, complying with the Election Commission’s orders, will mask pictures of Modi on vaccine certificates in poll-bound states. Earlier this month, the ECI had asked the Union Government to stop using PM’s picture on Covid-19 vaccination certificates in states headed for Assembly elections, following a complaint by the Trinamool Congress.

Also See: What are the problem areas of TMC and the chances of BJP in this election season in West Bengal

Preliminary medical tests conducted on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee late on Wednesday night detected severe bone injuries in her left ankle and foot, and injuries in the right shoulder, forearm and neck, a senior doctor of the state-run SSKM hospital said.

Trinamool Congress had slammed the Election Commission for failing to provide security to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was injured during election campaign in Nandigram, and said that the ECI cannot shun responsibility as it is in charge of law and order situation in the poll-bound West Bengal.

In a video message, Mamata urged people to remain calm and said that she will return to election campaigning in the next two to three days. Mamata said that she will use wheelchair for campaigning if needed.

Meanwhile, the Congress has released the list of 25 constituencies, where they will be contesting in the upcoming assembly election in Tamil Nadu. Out of the 25, the grand old party will face the BJP directly in five seats.

Posted on

Abhishek Banerjee cautions BJP to brace for May 02 result after Mamata was allegedly attacked

Abhishek Banerjee

Battleground for West Bengal election is getting ready gradually with the most important electoral collision set to be taking place in Nandigram.

West Bengal Chief Minister & TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee was seen in hospital with her left leg in a cast in a photo tweeted by her nephew Abhishek Banerjee this morning, a day after she alleged an attack in Nandigram, where she filed her nomination for the state election later this month.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee shared the image with a message targeting the BJP, which has mounted a campaign to try and oust the two-time Chief Minister and her Trinamool Congress from power in Bengal.

“BJP brace yourselves to see the power of people of BENGAL on Sunday, May 2nd. Get ready,” he tweeted.

Also See: Would West Bengal election really be a three-way fight after the defections?

Cannot divide Nandigram

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after filing her nomination from the Assembly seat had said, “Some people want to divide Nandigram 70-30 (ratio of Hindu, Muslim population), but I need 100 percent support. No one can divide this place along religious lines.”

Accompanied by state TMC chief Subrata Bakshi and local party leaders, Banerjee chief had reached Haldia Sub-Divisional Officer’s office after holding a roadshow that was attended by thousands of her supporters from Nandigram and other parts of Purba Medinipur district.

Exuding confidence of winning the seat, where she will take on her former protege and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, Banerjee said, “I have never returned empty-handed from here. Nandigram is not just a name, it is the name of a movement. Bhulte pari sobar naam, bhulbo nako Nandigram (I can forget everyone’s name, but can never forget Nandigram).”

Also See: What are the problem areas of TMC and the chances of BJP in this election season in West Bengal

The TMC chief filed the nomination papers and her candidature was proposed by Sushma Maity, wife of Bhagirath Maity who had gone missing during the Nandigram agitation, 14 years ago, and Abdul Sammad, a senior leader of Bhumi Uchchhed Pratirodh Committee that fought against the land acquisition. The other two proposers were Block TMC presidents of Nandigram-I and Nandigram-II, Swadesh Ranjan Das, and Mahadeb Bagh, respectively.

Posted on

Assam election: BJP minister in Assam switched side to Congress on being denied ticket in election

Sum Ronghang

When West Bengal is witnessing a slew of defections from the ruling party TMC, the ruling party in Assam, BJP is facing a similar situation, yet not to that extent.

Sum Ronghang, a BJP minister has switched formally to Congress on Sunday, on being denied ticket in the upcoming Assam assembly election.

He joined the Congress in the presence of party general secretary Jitendra Singh and party’s state unit chief Ripun Bora. Mr Ronghang is the Minister of hill area development and mines and minerals.

The Congress is likely to field him from Diphu constituency, party sources added.

Mr Ronghang said, “I did not like the way I was denied the ticket. I performed my duties with full dedication. I did not get the ticket due to conspiracy of certain individuals.”

He was one among the 11 BJP MLAs who have been dropped this time.

As per the recently conducted ABP-C-Voter survey, BJP-led alliance is likely to retain power in the state. Out of the state’s 126 seats, the opinion poll predicted 68-76 seats and 42 per cent vote share for the BJP, and 43-51 seats and 31 percent vote share for Congress-led alliance. The others may get 5-10 seats in the state.

Posted on

List of candidates announced for 291 of the 294 assembly seats to be contested in the West Bengal polls

West Bengal polls

For the upcoming state election, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced the list of candidates for 291 Assembly seats out of the total 294. The remaining three seats in Darjeeling will be contested by TMC allies, she said. While announcing the candidate list, Mamata said, “Have faith in me, only TMC can take Bengal to new heights.”

Also See: Would West Bengal election really be a three-way fight after the defections?

Putting all speculations to rest, the Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee announced that she will contest from Nandigram seat. This sets up the battle of Nandigram between her and in all possibilities, Suvendu Adhikari, who switched to BJP from TMC. “Today, we are releasing a list of 291 candidates which includes 50 women, 42 Muslim candidates. On 3 seats of north Bengal, we are not putting up our candidates. I will contest from Nandigram,” she said.

Also See: What are the problem areas of TMC and the chances of BJP in this election season in West Bengal

“From Bhowanipore constituency, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay will be contesting in the upcoming assembly elections,” Banerjee added. Bengali film director Raj Chakraborty will contest from Barrackpore, while TMC turncoat Sovan Chatterjee’s estranged wife Ratna Chatterjee has been fielded from Sovan’s seat.

Posted on

Sahaganj rally-BJP labels the daughters and wives as coal-thieves, said Mamata Banerjee terming the saffron party as a bunch of rats

Within 24 hours of the CBI-team entering Abhishek Banerjee’s house, TMC supremo and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee appeared at a public meeting in Sahaganj, (Chinsurah) Hooghly near the Ranangdehi statue. Her main message at the rally was that the BJP is hurting the security of the housewives & women in general. Without naming Rujira Bandyopadhyay, she fired at the BJP from the Sahaganj-rally on the same day, stating, “The BJP labels the housewives and daughters as coal-thieves.”

Also Read: West Bengal is a tough battlefield for BJP-an overview from historical, cultural & economic standpoints

At the rally in Sahaganj, CM Banerjee further said, “The BJP is calling the Trinamool Congress, a party of extortionists, but where did the money of the banknotes go? Why is Coal India being sold? Why are rail cells being sold?” In a tone of caustic allegation, Mamata further said referring the BJP leaders, “You are the ones who are squandering crores of rupees. You are calling the TMC as extortionists, (more specifically tolaabaaj in Bengali) but you yourselves are a bunch of rioters.”

On the same day, the CM was heard repeatedly voicing the slogan ‘Khela hobe’-which means-‘there will be a game’.

She said, “Everyone is pulled by Bengal, by its food & by its soil. I myself had been involved in student politics. What do you say, Ladies? Will there be a game? There will be only one game in the election of 2021. Let me say that, there will be Trinamool Congress on one side and the rest on the other. I will be the goalkeeper. Let us see who scores the goals. All of the kicks (by BJP) will go over the bar.”

Also See: Would West Bengal election really be a three-way fight after the defections?

There is a known friction between the BJP-led centre and the TMC-led state government over the industrial policy. On this, CM Banerjee said, “We were not allowed to acquire Dunlop. He (Modi) did not do anything himself & he did not let us do anything either. And he came to Dunlop and just gave big talks. BJP leaders live in the house of the owner of Dunlop. You, BJP leaders are all greedy & racketeers. You (BJP men) are like a bunch of rats.”

She further added, “You (BJP men) do not know how to respect women & girls. Women are not safe in BJP-camp. So, I urge the people to not send women to that party. Trinamool knows how to respect mothers and sisters.” She also put forth a rhetoric while volleying another criticism, “What did Modi give? Everyday, he is playing dugdugi(damru) of lies.”

Also See: What are the problem areas of TMC and the chances of BJP in this election season in West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee also warned everyone that BJP is making fake videos and movies and spreading lies. At the rally, she asked all not to believe anyone from the BJP & the (one-sided) narrative peddled by the saffron camp as they are all fake.

Posted on

Kapil Sibal criticizes central government and BJP over the poriborton call in West Bengal election

Kapil-sibal

On Tuesday, Kapil Sibal, a prominent Congress leader took a jibe at the Central Government, saying that will the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) introduce a similar change that it brought after 2014 including demonetization.

Taking to Twitter, Kapil Sibal said: “Modiji In a public meeting in West Bengal allegedly said: ”…will bring ‘ashol poriborton’ (real change) in Bengal”.”

The Congress leader, in his tweet, then listed out some of the changes brought under his prime ministership from 2014, such as “notebandi (demonetization), ‘note’ bank politics, topple governments, persecute those who oppose, sell dreams, data manipulation among others.

This comes amid an intense tussle between the TMC and the BJP ahead of the Assembly polls in West Bengal this year. The BJP is trying to gain an appreciable hold in Bengal politics by carrying out exercises like rath yatras, which are blamed to be having a polarization effect on the populace. It has also gained new turncoat leaders who defected from the TMC-camp. On the other hand, the Congress and the Left front have formed an alliance, with possible room for adjustment for the newbie party-Indian Secular front launched by the Pirzada, Abbas Siddique of Furfurasharif in Hooghly.

Posted on

Seat sharing worked out for 230 seats between Left and Congress- ISF also coming onboard with Left-INC

The Left Front and Congress on Tuesday claimed that they had worked out a seat-sharing mechanism in 230 of Bengal’s 294 assembly seats in the upcoming polls.  Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury formally announced the Congress-Left alliance for the upcoming 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections on Tuesday. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Chowdhury said that both parties have finalised seat-sharing along with formulating how different ideologies can team up for ‘nation-building’.

Also see: Trilateral fight in West Bengal election 2021

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the seat-sharing formula will be declared once other secular parties, including the RJD, formally join the Congress-Left alliance ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

The Congress leader was referring to Furfura Sharif cleric Abbas Siddiqui’s newly-formed Indian Secular Front (ISF).

Also See: Would West Bengal election really be a three-way fight after the defections?

The parties, however, kept their plans in the remaining 64 seats close to their chest, mainly because they needed more time to fine-tune arrangements with Furfura Sharif cleric Abbas Siddiqui’s newly launched Indian Secular Front which has sought 50 seats, and with RJD and NCP with whom the Left has had similar arrangements in the past. “A lot of secular parties including Abbas Siddique’s Indian Secular Front have shown interest in joining the Left-Congress alliance. We have decided not to make our seat-sharing public as we wait for all of the secular parties to join in,” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

Also See: West Bengal 2021: Battleground for BJP and TMC

According to sources close to the development, both parties needed some more time to work out the details with ISF, whose president, Nausad Siddiqui, had written to them asking for seats in South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Nadia and and East Midnapore. At nearly all of these places, Left parties have had a greater vote share than Congress. Sources indicated that the Left would have to sacrifice some seats to ISF if the deal has to materialize.

At a press conference held in Kolkata, ISF leader, Abbas Siddique stated that AIMIM leader Owaisi would understand the political necessity of ISF to align with the Left- Congress alliance and that all parties except for BJP and TMC are allowed to form alliance with ISF.

Posted on

TMC MLA Tapas Roy asked Left-Congress to join with TMC to fight BJP-reactions arrive from BJP and Congress leaders

Tapas Roy

At the latest public meeting held at Onda in Bankura, a somewhat expected yet head-turning development took place in the run-up to the first major state election in India this year.

The Left and Congress, who have formed an alliance to fight the election in West Bengal, have been asked by a Trinamool Congress leader to join the TMC to fight the onslaught of the BJP. West Bengal Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Tapas Roy, asked the Left- Congress to join into the TMC fold to give a combined fight to the BJP. Roy stated that since the energy of the Congress and Left are on a decline, they have formed an alliance and that they can make their fight viable against the BJP by joining the TMC. The offer is politically novel given the enmity between the TMC and the Left front.

Also see: Trilateral fight in West Bengal election 2021

TMC MLA Tapas Roy said, “They (BJP) are saying that they will rule Bengal. I want to tell Congressmen and Left party leaders that Arup Khan (Onda TMC MLA) will join your procession. Congress and the Left can’t do it alone. You also know that this is not possible with your declining energy. That is why you two have come together.”

He further added a caution, “Do not stop Mamata Banerjee. Do not cut the canal and bring crocodiles. You also know that you do not have the strength to resist the Kapalik power (BJP). The name of the one who can is Mamata Banerjee. All BJP leaders are afraid of her.”

Also See: Would West Bengal election really be a three-way fight after the defections?

This offer of TMC drew reactions from both Congress and BJP leaders in West Bengal.

Dilip Ghosh, the President of the West Bengal unit of BJP commented, “Mamata cannot fight the BJP alone.” In the context of the violence between BJP and TMC workers (like in Khejuri in East Midnapore), he also stated that the TMC workers should mend their ways or face retribution.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stated that Tapas Roy should leave TMC and join Congress, as Roy’s statement, Adhir said, reflected that TMC would not be able to fight BJP alone.

While TMC is dealing with the fallout of the defections, BJP is currently looking to gather & woo the dalit vote bank in the run-up to the Bengal election 2021.

Posted on

Resignation of Dinesh Trivedi of TMC has triggered speculation of him joining BJP

Dinesh Trivedi

West Bengal will be seeing the first major state election in India in the year 2021.

Dinesh Trivedi of TMC resigned from the Upper House of the parliament-Rajya Sabha. In a season, when the West Bengal election is just around the corner and the ruling party of the state, TMC has seen many defections (40 odd leaders) including heavyweights like Suvendu Adhikari & Rajeeb Banerjee, resignation of Trivedi has triggered a speculation storm. There are talks about his possible shift to the saffron camp-BJP.

Also See: West Bengal 2021: Battleground for BJP and TMC

In this context, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, had commented on the rife speculations on Dinesh Trivedi, stating, “Trivedi was saying he was feeling suffocated. Let him go and get admitted to BJP’s ICU.”

At a rally, held in South 24 paraganas, Abhishek stated that Mamata Banerjee would become the CM for the third time, rubbishing the assertion by the Home minister Amit Shah that BJP would win more than 200 seats in this year’s state assembly election in West Bengal. He also castigated the BJP over the controversial “Jai Shri Ram” slogan that, he said, was used by the opposition because it had no development agenda. He criticized the BJP as a “bunch of outsiders” who are unaware of the state’s culture and are spreading fake news to confuse voters.

He further refuted claims by the centre, repeated in parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, that Bengal farmers had been deprived of financial aid from the central government.

“BJP should first think of Gujarat, UP, and other states. No need to worry about Bengal. Outsiders will not rule Bengal,” Mr. Banerjee said.

Also see: Trilateral fight in West Bengal election 2021

Dinesh Trivedi dropped a clear hint that he is likely to switch over to the BJP, saying that it would be a privilege to be part of the saffron camp.

His response came after West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said that Trivedi is welcome to join the party if he wants after the latter quit his Rajya Sabha seat.

“I am very grateful to BJP and its senior leaders, I was told they have said that I am welcome. It would be a privilege, no question about it. But, let me settle down,” said Trivedi.

Quoting a recent statement by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee that she wants to live with her “head held high”, Trivedi remarked that this applies to everybody.

“Mamata Banerjee rightly says ‘I want to keep my head up’, she should know that everybody should keep their head up. If there is environment of violence, then there is fear, so head is not held high,” the former Union minister said.