Kolkata: Trinamool Congress MP and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan on Wednesday exhibited confidence of his party reclaiming power in West Bengal in the upcoming two-phased Assembly polls, asserting that it is “not going anywhere for the next 40-50 years”.
Pathan was campaigning for party candidate Abdul Khaleque Molla, who is contesting for the Metiabruz Assembly constituency, in the South 24 Parganas district. Assembly elections are scheduled on April 23 and 29.
Speaking to IANS, Pathan said: “This support of the people is for him (Molla). Also, I am very happy to witness the support for myself,” he said.
Pathan mentioned that he has received a lot of warmth and affection from West Bengal.
“Didi (Mamata Banerjee) sent me as the candidate of Baharampur (in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls), and the people there have kept me as their son. Now, wherever I go in Bengal, I receive the same kind of love. Also, not only for me, this affection can be seen for Didi also and for all the other (Trinamool) candidates,” he said.
The Trinamool MP is hopeful of the party returning to power. “Trinamool will definitely come, it is not going anywhere for the next 40-50 years because people here like the party as well as Didi. She is especially liked by the women and children here.”
About reports of lakhs of names being deleted from the voter’s list following Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state, he said: “It is very disappointing that despite submitting the relevant documents, people’s names have been removed. But Didi is fighting their battle and will do that in the future too.”
Moreover, Pathan recalled how Banerjee became the first sitting Chief Minister to personally argue in the Supreme Court against the Election Commission’s SIR.
“Before this, no Chief Minister has gone to argue in the court, but what Didi did for the people here and for Bengal, it is praiseworthy and people are appreciating it,” he asserted.
(IANS)
