The CM has almost recovered and is expected to restart campaigning on March 31 by addressing a rally at Dhubulia Mahua Moitra…reports Asian Lite News
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, who had stopped campaigning after she fell at her residence on March 14 evening and sustained an injury on her forehead which necessitated stitches, is likely to return to the poll trail soon.
Party insiders said that she has almost recovered and is expected to restart her campaigning on March 31 by addressing a rally at Dhubulia in Nadia district for Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency candidate, Mahua Moitra.
Though Krishnanagar is slated to go to polls in the fourth phase of the elections on May 13, Trinamool leaders say it was chosen to mark Mamata Banerjee’s return to campaigning as a substantial portion of its voters hail from the backward-class Matua community, who are refugees from Bangladesh settled in different pockets of West Bengal.
Since the Central government notified the implementation of the CAA, Matuas have been leaning towards the BJP, and Mamata Banerjee, in all probability, is re-beginning her campaign schedule there to reach out to the community.
Another reason why the Chief Minister is focussing on Krishnanagar is that ensuring the victory of Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha in connection with the cash-for-query case, has been taken as a prestige fight by her.
BJP has fielded Amrita Roy, a member of the erstwhile Krishnanagar royal family, thus making the contest tougher for Moitra considering the sentiment of the local population towards the royal family.
Party insiders said that during the rally on March 31, the Chief Minister is expected to devote a major part of her address to describing Moitra’s expulsion from the Parliament as a “reflection of vindictive politics pursued by BJP against Trinamool Congress”.
Star campaigners
In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, Trinamool Congress released a list of 40 star campaigners on Tuesday.
The list included West Bengal Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee, MP and party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, and former cricketer and candidate from Behrampore, Yusuf Pathan, among others.
TMC announced its list of 42 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections earlier on March 10.
Giving a message of TMC going solo in the Lok Sabha polls, party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee announced the list, which included certain surprises from former cricketers Yusuf Pathan from Berhampore and Kirti Azad from the Bardhaman Durgapur Lok Sabha seat.
Abhishek Banerjee will contest from Diamond Harbour. Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from Lok Sabha in the winter session last year has been given a ticket from Krishnanagar constituency.
Meanwhile, Mukut Mani Adhikari, who recently quit the Bharatiya Janata Party, has also been given a ticket from the Ranaghat Lok Sabha seat.
Shatrughan Sinha is set to again contest from Asansol, a seat he had won earlier in the 2022 bypoll.
TMC has fielded Jagadish C Basuniya from Cooch Behar, Prakash Chik Baraik from Alipurduar, Nirmal Ch Roy from Jalpaiguri, and Gopal Lama from Darjeeling.
On the announcement of the candidates, Trinamool Congress said that the ruling party in Bengal will stand with the common people as part of its committment.
“Under the leadership of Chairperson @MamataOfficial, we’re pleased to announce the names of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. We are steadfast in our commitment to stand by the common people against the deprivation of the Central Govt. When it comes to confronting the @BJP4India jomidars head-on and responding in the language they understand best, the Twin Flower is people’s only choice!,” TMC posted on X.
Bengal will vote to elect 42 Lok Sabha members across all seven phases of the general elections that are scheduled to begin on April 19 and will end on June 1. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4.
In the previous Lok Sabha polls, the TMC won 22 seats while the BJP sprung a major surprise, winning 18 seats. (IANS/ANI)
TMC Moves ECI Against Dilip Ghosh
Trinamool Congress on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) through the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal against BJP’s Bardhaman-Durgapur candidate, Dilip Ghosh, accusing him of using derogatory comments about Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a briefing of media persons.
In the complaint forwarded to the office of CEO, West Bengal, the ruling party has accused Ghosh, also the former state president of BJP West Bengal, of casting aspersions about the Chief Minister’s family lineage.
According to Trinamool Congress, such comments on the part of Ghosh were a clear violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) which disallows any political party or candidate from indulging in any activities or making any statements that would amount to an attack on the personal life of any person or statements that may be malicious or offending decency and morality.
In the letter to the CEO, West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress leadership has also requested the former to issue directions refraining Ghosh and other BJP candidates or leaders from making such personal comments against the Chief Minister or any other leader or candidate of Trinamool Congress.
Trinamool Congress has also requested the CEO, West Bengal to initiate immediate action against Dilip Ghosh for blatant violation of the MCC.
Meanwhile, Dilip Ghosh opened up about his controversial remarks on Mamata earlier and said that he had no personal dispute or grudges against the Bengal Chief Minister.
Speaking to the media about his remarks on Mamata Banerjee, Dilip Ghosh said, “This is not the first time that I have faced controversy over my statement, because I speak in front of those who commit injustice. Regarding the statement, I gave with regard to the Honourable Bengal Chief Minister, I would like to say that I do not have any personal dispute, grudges or ill will towards her.”
“I had merely countered and questioned the political statements she has given to mislead people. The question is that many people have objections to my use of language and words. Our (BJP) party as well as other parties have called it unparliamentary. If so, I am sad about it,” he said.
Adding further, the BJP leader questioned why objections were not raised when a party leader from TMC had used foul language against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.
“I also want to question why no objections were raised when a TMC leader used abusive language against our senior party leader Suvendu Adhikari in Kanthi. Does our party leader have no honour? His father is a senior leader who is still alive. Kya unka maan sammaan nahi hai (is he not respected?). No one raised any objections on that note. Why was no statement given from TMC at that time? said Ghosh.”
“I have given a political statement. The issue of honour is raised only if it is a woman. The women’s card is brought out again and again. I had just responded to that. I have nothing more to say than this,” stated Ghosh.
Adding further he said, “I will give an official reply to any official letter sent to the party or anyone else.”
This comes after earlier, while addressing reporters in Durgapur, BJP MP Dilip Ghosh said that wherever Mamata Banerjee goes, she calls herself the daughter of that state, and “she must identify her own father.”
“When Didi (CM Mamata Banerjee) goes to Goa, she calls herself the daughter of Goa. When she goes to Tripura, she says that she is the daughter of Tripura. She should first identify her own father.” Dilip Ghosh said.
Meanwhile, BJP President JP Nadda issued a notice seeking clarification from the party leader Dilip Ghosh regarding his remarks on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
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