Bengal Polls 2021
Mamata's own people told me she's looking for 2nd seat, says JP Nadda; TMC hits back
Kolkata/IBNS: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Jagat Prakash Nadda made an explosive statement saying West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's own people told him that she was looking for a second seat considering her imminent defeat in state poll epicentre Nandigram.
In an explosive interview with news agency ANI, Nadda said, "This is their strategy and they know better about it, but we have information that she is searching and their people have said so to me. However, I cannot take a guarantee of this as they know it. But she is losing Nandigram, this is certain."
Hitting back at the BJP, TMC leader Yashwant Sinha said the saffron party is playing mind games to motivate people.
"They (BJP) are playing mind games. Now they went to the extent of making false claims to mislead people. It is a new turn to their process of spreading lies. I would urge voters not to believe in those lies," said Sinha.
West Bengal Minister and TMC candidate from Shyampukur, Shashi Panja, said, "Didi is winning in Nandigram comfortably."
A statement similar to that of Nadda's was first heard on the poll day on Apr 1 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi taunted the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo asking whether she was looking for a second seat.
At a rally in Uluberia, Modi said, "The Nandigram incident shows Didi is losing in Nandigram. We are hearing that she might fight from another seat."
"Didi, are you going to file your nomination from another seat? Even if you contest from another seat, voters are ready to defeat you," the BJP stalwart added.
Hitting back at the Prime Minister, Mamata at a rally in Cooch Behar on Friday said, "You cannot control me because I do not belong to your party. You cannot suggest to me where I should fight elections from. I contested from Nandigram and I am going to win there. I work as per the intelligence of people."
After her trusted soldier Suvendu Adhikari quit the TMC and joined the BJP, Mamata took the reigns of her party in Nandigram by announcing her candidature from the seat, leaving her traditional Bhabanipore constituency.
Interestingly, Mamata while announcing the TMC's candidate list had said she might fight from Tollygunge seat in Kolkata, triggering speculations over her political move.
On the polling day, a standoff between the TMC and BJP workers in Nandigram's Boyal occurred after Mamata reached one polling station in the area at around 1:40 pm. after it was reported that a TMC polling agent was denied an entry into a booth.
Mamata was held inside the polling booth for nearly two hours until she was rescued by CRPF and police personnel.
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