Kolkata, May 24 (IANS) Three weeks after the Assembly election results, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday once again alleged that the Trinamool Congress did not lose the West Bengal Assembly elections and claimed that the Election Commission helped the BJP secure victory in the state. She also alleged that she was defeated “by force” in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency.
Speaking on the day the results of the Falta Assembly by-election were declared, the Trinamool Congress supremo took a swipe at Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and said: “How did you win in Bhabanipur? I will tell you that in court. If you have the courage, get a forensic report. We want the EVM report.”
Mamata Banerjee alleged that after coming to power in the state, the BJP has unleashed terror against Trinamool Congress leaders and workers and that the police were arresting Trinamool leaders and councillors. She claimed that around 2,000 Trinamool Congress offices had been looted.
In Mamata Banerjee’s words: “If the chair (Suvendu Adhikari) says, I will jail 2,500 people, a separate jail has been built for Trinamool Congress workers… I think he should go to jail first. From Saradha to Narada, his name is in every scam. Those who are giving orders today are out of order.”
She further said: “Counting was done on May 4. Today is the 24th. I have endured these 20 days silently. Not only me, but the people of Bengal and Trinamool workers are also enduring. Many have become victims of state terrorism. About 12 people have died. People are being forced to commit suicide. Everyone is being forced to write resignation letters. Elected bodies are not being allowed to function. There are obstacles in the development work of major civic bodies like the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, including water supply, roads and other services.”
Criticising Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Mamata Banerjee said: “I have also run the administration. We have never asked people in uniform (police personnel) to do all these things. We came to power in 2011 and played Rabindra Sangeet at every corner. Today, we are not being allowed to hold meetings. Every day, our elected councillors are being arrested. Goons are occupying municipal offices. More than 2,500 party offices have been occupied by lumpens in front of the police. When we go to complain to the police, they say there are instructions.”
Mamata Banerjee again alleged that the Assembly elections this time were not conducted in a fair and transparent manner. According to her, the electoral process had been reduced to a “farce”.
The Trinamool Congress leader said: “First of all, there was no logical discrepancy in any other state. It happened only in this state. The names of 60 lakh people were deliberately left out. We fought and restored 32 lakh names, but not the remaining 27 lakh names. Later, the BJP submitted another 7 lakh names. Around 34 lakh people could not cast their votes. After that, rigging took place. We have specific information that ‘data hacking’ took place from the Central Election Commission office. Reports are reaching us one after another. BJP workers entered the counting hall wearing CRPF uniforms. Everyone knows that.”
She added: “The person sitting on the chair now is not supposed to be sitting there. They are not from Bengal, they are outsiders. They are snatching away people’s livelihoods by using bulldozers after coming to power.”
–IANS
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