Kolkata: The forthcoming two-phase Assembly polls in West Bengal later this month are a challenge not just for the Trinamool Congress but also for the common people of West Bengal, since all will be forced to turn vegetarian if the BJP comes to power in the state after the polls this time, claimed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday.
“We have to win the battle this time at any cost. Otherwise, consumption of non-vegetarian foods like eggs, meat, and fish will be banned in the state. The future of the next generation in the state will be pushed towards darkness. So cast your vote judiciously. Do not allow the BJP to make any entry,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said while addressing a campaign rally at Sreerampore in Hooghly district on Wednesday.
Speaking on the renewed activities of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the state, the Chief Minister said that the central agencies have been selectively unleashed against the Trinamool Congress leaders just to harass them before the polls.
“Have you ever seen the CBI or ED hunting any CPI(M) leader. This is because the CPI(M) leadership had sold itself to the BJP. Why are these central agencies always behind us? Because they know that the people of West Bengal are with us and hence we have not learnt to accept defeat so easily,” the Chief Minister said.
According to her, the cooking gas supply had been kept smooth in West Bengal, keeping the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state in mind. “But it is assured that all these will be banished after the elections are over. The BJP is all set to ruin the entire country,” the Chief Minister said.
Speaking on the occasion, she indirectly admitted that her personal electoral battle from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata will be a slightly tricky one because of the deletion of a huge number of voters from her constituency.
“I submitted my nomination from Bhabanipur today. They have deleted several names from there. But I do care. I stay with the people of Bhabanipur for 365 days a year. I stay in Bhabanipur. I have faith in the voters there,” the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress, on Wednesday, released the list of the star campaigners for the second phase of polls in West Bengal, which will be on April 29. The list had the same names that were there in the list of star campaigners for the first phase of the poll, which will be on April 23, with Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress’ National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee being the first two names.
(IANS)
