‘I’m a Royal Bengal Tiger’: Mamata in Nandigram; Suvendu Retorts

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a roadshow in wheelchair from Khudiram More to Thakur Chawk in Nandigram.

Image of an injured Mamata Banerjee has become the centrepiece of the TMC’s Bengal 2021 election campaign this time.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

Amid the ongoing election campaign in the state of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a roadshow in a wheelchair from Khudiram More to Thakur Chawk in Nandigram on Monday, 29 March.

She alleged that Nandigram is witnessing “hooliganism”.

“Those who cannot love culture, cannot do politics here. Nandigram witnessing hooliganism. We did meeting in Birulia, TMC office destroyed. He is (Suvendu Adhikari) doing whatever he wants. I can play games too. I too will respond like a lion. I am Royal Bengal tiger,” she said, ANI reported.

Meanwhile, political rival and ex-aide Suvendu Adhikari, who Mamata is going to clash against in the upcoming battle for Nandigram, also hit out at the chief minister on Sunday, referring to her as “owner of TMC Pvt Ltd.”

He also alleged that she uses filthy language and asked her to get letter-pads with ‘ex-MLA’ written on them.

MORE DETAILS FROM MAMATA’S ROADSHOW

The chief minister’s official Facebook account shared live footages of the roadshow, in which Banerjee was seen greeting crowds of people with party workers accompanying here.

As the country celebrates Holi, the eight-kilometre roadshow was followed by a public meeting. She said that she was in favour of a free and fair election.

“They attacked me. No one from Nandigram attacked me but you brought goons from UP, Bihar. We want a free and fair election. If they come, women should beat them up with utensils,” ANI quoted Banerjee as saying.

SUVENDU’S RETORT

Taking a swipe at Mamata, Adhikari, as per ANI, referred to her as the ‘owner of TMC Pvt Ltd’.

“TMC Pvt Lt owner is in Birulia (Nandigram) with a bandage on her leg. The Managing Director is Bhaipo (nephew) and other employees are small time thieves.”

Alleging that she uses “filthy language,” he also said that she should get letter-pads with ‘ex-MLA’ written on them.

“I will not respond to her. She uses filthy language. Mamata Banerjee’s statements will not make any impact here. She will get a befitting reply. She will make history when she runs away after losing. I would suggest her to get printed letter-pads with ex-MLA written on it,” he said.

Meanwhile, on being asked about an alleged blocking of his convoy in Asadtala, Adhikari claimed that this “was done by some people of a particular community” and that it “will not make any difference.”

ADHIKARI ‘HARBOURING CRIMINALS’: TMC WRITES TO EC

Meanwhile, the TMC, on Monday, also wrote two letters to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer.

The first, by TMC leader Derek O’Brien, alleged that Adhikari is “harbouring criminals” who are non-residents of Nandigram.

Thereafter, he sought from the Election Commission to “immediately intervene” and take “direct necessary steps” to apprehend these criminals.

In the second letter, the Trinamool Congress, as per India Today, wrote to the EC about:

• Custody of all anti-social elements in East Medinipur
• No deployment of armed police forces from UP, MP, Bihar and any Other BJP/NDA-ruled states

“During the first phase of polls in Purba Medinipur, there has been large scale violence by anti-social elements of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), resulting in grave injuries to many people and also various instances of booth capturing, rigging and jamming by them. We have confirmed information that there are anti-social elements camping in various parts of East Medinipur, who have been brought in to create large scale violence on poll days.”

TMC Letter to EC

Further, the letter said that as the chief ministers of UP, MP and the cabinet ministers of Bihar are campaigning for the BJP in West Bengal, police personnel from MP, UP, Bihar and any other BJP/NDA-ruled state should not be posted in Bengal.

BACKGROUND

Banerjee contesting from Nandigram this time around is a direct challenge to Suvendu Adhikari, who exited from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to join the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Nandigram constituency will witness polling in the second phase scheduled on Thursday, 1 April.

The Chief Minister was discharged from the SSKM Hospital earlier this month after she was injured in Nandigram. Right after the incident, the CM had said, "Four or five people came in front of the car and pushed the door. This was done purposely." She added that no local police was present at the spot where the incident took place.

The West Bengal Assembly election will be held from 27 March to 29 April in eight phases, following which the results will be declared on 2 May. The first phase of polling held on Saturday, 27 March, witnessed a voter turnout of nearly 80 percent.

(With inputs from ANI and India Today)