Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come out with a new slogan ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections – Bangla chaaye BJP Sarkar (Bengal wants BJP government).
The Prime Minister, who is currently campaigning in Bengal’s East Medinipur, said the BJP is committed to West Bengal’s development and the party will work hard. “The development of Bengal is BJP’s commitment. We will work very hard for Bengal’s future,” he said, continuing, “It is important for first-time voters and those under the age of 25. They have a responsibility to build the future of Bengal.”
Modi attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the plight of those struck by Cyclone Amphan. “Why are the people affected by Amphan still forced to live under shattered roofs? When there is a need, Didi is nowhere to be seen. But, when the elections come, she says the government is at the door. This is their (TMC) game,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister further said that Mamata could not answer those first affected by Cyclone Amphan and later by TMC’s 'tolabaaz'. “The Centre sent relief to West Bengal, but it got stuck in the 'Bhaipo (nephew) window'. Didi, Bengal wants to know who looted the relief for Amphan,” Modi said.
Since the BJP began aggressively campaigning for the West Bengal elections, TMC raised the ‘outsiders’ barb to attack the saffron party. However, Modi replied that no insiders are outsiders in this land. “In the Bengal that has bound India in the spirit of Vande Mataram, Didi speaks of outsiders. We all are children of this land, no Indian is an outsider in this land,” PM Modi said.
Modi said that come May 2 (election result day), change will come to West Bengal with Mamata Banerjee leaving the government. “On May 2, Didi jacche, ashol poriborton asche (On May 2, Mamata will leave and real change will come). Didi, even the children of West Bengal have understood your game. Thus on May 2, West Bengal will show the door to Didi,” he said.
At a rally in Kanthi Dakshin, the Prime Minister said that the West Bengal Assembly election would be a show of strength of the Adhikari clan. The Kanti constituency and East Medinipur is supposed to be the bastion of the Adhikari family.
Three out of the four members of the Adhikari family are now siding with the BJP. Former Union Minister and ex-TMC leader Sisir Adhikari and his sons Suvendu and Soumendu Adhikari have joined the BJP. There are rumours that Sisir’s other son and TMC MP Dibyendu Adhikari is likely to join the BJP soon. Suvendu was the first to leave the TMC for BJP. Soon other family members also joined the party.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has written to Chief Electoral Officer to immediately stop the deployment of State Armed Police (SAP) from Uttar Pradesh or any other BJP ruled state.
TMC leader Derek O’Brien wrote, “It has come to party’s notice that 30 companies of SAP from UP has been directed to be deployed by the Election Commission for the ongoing General Election in West Bengal.” He said that while the party has no objection over SAP deployment from non-BJP states, it has objection to SAP from BJP ruled states like UP as Chief Minister Yogi Adithyanath is the star campaigner.
