New Delhi/Kolkata: Taking on West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee in a high-stake electoral contest at Nandigram, BJP nominee Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday displayed confidence throughout the day.
In contrast it was a day of utter frustration and blame game by Mamata Banerjee even as unfortunately the polling day at ground zero Nandigram and adjoining areas witnessed violence and poll-related clashes.
“Aaj key tirish taar madhya ekta o jeetbe na (Out of 30 assembly seats where polls are held today, Trinamool will not win a single),” Suvendu said.
“The whole country is today looking at Nandigram to see if development or politics of appeasement will win here,” he said and lashed out at Trinamool Congress leadership and party workers for raising ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan saying – “this is originally a slogan from Bangladesh”.
Some BJP leaders in the past have maintained that Joy Bangla slogan is essentially drawn from a pan-Islamic clamour and has from across the border with little meaning in India.
“I have a personal relationship with every person in Nandigram. I am pretty confident to win the election,” he said.
Suvendu Adhikari also said, the Trinamool camp is unnerved by the pro-Hinditva factor in this year’s polls. “Jai shri ram ka dar,” he said.
In Uluberia where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally, several BJP supporters were seen clad in t-shorts with slogan ‘Eto Raag Keno Didi (Why you are so angry and disturbed Didi)’.
During campaigning in the run up to the polls, Mr Modi has on several occasions spoken in Bangla and had remarked: “Eto raag keno Didi”.
In contrast, the Trinamool camp displayed frustration on the polling day on Thursday, April 1.
An upset Mamata Banerjee has threatened to move court also on poll violence and related issues at Nandigram. Firstly, she cancelled her north Bengal election campaign trip and decided to stay put at Nandigram itself. Things did not help much.
In the afternoon, after receiving information about troubles at the Boyal Maqtab primary school booth number 7, a known Trinamool stronghold, she rushed to the spot in her wheelchair ride.
Mamata was there for over one hour.
The Chief Minister spoke to the poll officers and also the booth agents and others.
From the booth itself, a visibly rattled looking Mamata spoke to Governor Jagdeep Dhankar and also dashed off a letter to the Election Commission.
Later talking to reporters, she said, “….I am sorry for the Election Commission for their silence”.
For his part, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar tweeted: “Issues flagged by Mamata Banerjee a while ago on phone have been imparted to the concerned. There is full assurance of the concerned to adherence to rule of law. Am confident all will act in right spirit and earnestness so that democracy flourishes.”
Addressing election rallies in Jayagar and Uluberia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi exuded confidence that people of Bengal “will definitely punish her for all her faults in governance and betraying their trust”.
The Prime Minister said, “For the BJP, the state of West Bengal will emerge as a ground for development and not Khela”.
There will be enhanced investment now in the state, he said.
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