BJP National President J P Nadda addresses during a roadshow in support of the party candidate Baishali Dalmiya (R), for the State Assembly polls, in Belur, Howrah district. (PTI)Assembly Elections 2021 LIVE updates: BJP national president J P Nadda on Wednesday asserted that the high percentage of polling in the first phase is proof enough of a change of guard in West Bengal, as people have lost faith in the “corrupt” TMC regime. The first phase of assembly polls on March 27 recorded 79.79 per cent voting.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday wrote to non-BJP leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, MK Stalin, Tejashwi Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, Arvind Kejriwal, and Naveen Patnaik, stating that the time has come for a “united and effective struggle” against BJP’s “attacks on democracy and Constitution”.
A total of 69 seats spread across West Bengal and Assam will go to the polls on April 1. Nandigram, where CM Mamata Banerjee is locking horns with Suvendu Adhikari, will also vote along with 29 other seats in the second phase, the campaigning for which ended on Tuesday. For Banerjee and the BJP, the battle for Nandigram is a prestige fight. This was the place where she led an agitation against land acquisition in 2007, and it catapulted her to the centrestage of state politics.
Meanwhile, in Assam’s Barak Valley, BJP’s CAA promise, excluding Muslim immigrants, and now its rhetoric targeting ‘Miya’ culture are playing on the intrinsic divide. While the AIUDF has always had a presence in Barak Valley, the BJP’s vilification has turned Hindus against it, as well as ally Congress.
The Assam Jatiya Parishad on Wednesday complained to the Chief Electoral Officer against sitting BJP MLA and Morigain candidate Rama Kanta Dewri for allegedly distributing money.
The newly floated political party enclosed a video, which has gone viral showing Dewri of handing over money to some women.
The complaint to the CEO said the BJP MLA is "clearly seen to have distributed money in cash amongst a crowd predominantly consisted of women".
"The act appears to be a clear case of corrupt practices and electoral offence under the legal provisions governing conduct of elections which warrant stern action by the ECI," AJP Office Secretary Nikhil Bhattacharjya said in the letter.
The party demanded an inquiry into the matter and "appropriate legal action" against the candidate. (PTI)
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "quoting" from the Bible at a poll rally and nothing for the nuns harassed by "goons" belonging to his party during a train journey through BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh recently.
"I suppose this was because the elections in Kerala are around the corner. Because I didn't hear a single word about the sisters who were harassed in Jhansi," she said, a day after Modi targeted the ruling LDF over the gold smuggling scam in a poll rally in Palakkad, saying the CPI(M)-led government "betrayed" the people,just as Judas did to Jesus for a few pieces of silver".
Addressing an election rally here, Gandhi said there was nothing more hollow than quoting from the Bible "to sow seeds of division and hatred in the country".
She said she has worked for many years with the nuns belonging to Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Delhi, who taught her how to clean the wounds of the destitutes. (PTI)
Former TMC MLA Dinesh Bajaj joined the BJP on Wednesday, a day before the second phase polling in the state. He was inducted into the party in the presence of BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya at the party office in the Hastings area.
After joining the BJP, the former TMC MLA said he took such a decision after being denied a ticket to contest in Assembly polls this time. "The party is no longer in control of Mamata Banerjee. Someone wise is running the party using her image. The promise to give me a ticket this time was also not kept," said Bajaj after his induction.
BJP chief J P Nadda on Wednesday asserted that the high percentage of polling in the first phase is proof enough of a change of guard in West Bengal, as people have lost faith in the "corrupt" TMC regime.
Nadda also lauded the Election Commission for conducting "peaceful elections" in spite of "TMC goons" at play.
"'Khela shesh hoye gyache' (the game is over). The high polling percentage shows that people are yearning for change. (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee is worried as the elections were peaceful and the TMC goons could not have a field day," he said, addressing a poll rally here.
The first phase of assembly polls on March 27 recorded 79.79 per cent voting. (PTI)
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said that TMC chief Mamata Banerjee has realised that she has lost ground in West Bengal and is speaking about her 'gotra' in desperation, but this "drama" will not help her party win the assembly election.
"You are disclosing your gotra and are opposing 'Jai Shri Ram' and also disallowed Ma Durga's immersion during Durga Puja. People understand everything as to who is genuine and who is not," he told reporters.
Javadekar claimed that the people of the state have already made up their mind to bring the BJP to power and the Lok Sabha election result indicated the people's will to reject Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress.
As she ended her Nandigram poll campaign, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said during her speech that her gotra was 'Shandilya'.
"I visited a temple where the priest asked me my 'gotra'. I told him - 'Maa, Maati, Manus', but actually I'm Shandilya," Banerjee said in Nandigram, where she is pitted against her former general secretary Suvendu Adhikari. (PTI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused Congress and AIUDF of hankering for power in Assam to open the borders for infiltrators and said emphatically that BJP will not allow the state to become a hub for illegal immigrants again after freeing the land encroached by them during last five years.
Taking a swipe at All India United Democratic Front chief Badruddin Ajmal for claiming that the "lock and key" (AIUDF symbol) of forming the next government in the state is in his hands, Shah said the people would decide who will run Assam.
"Kaan khol kar sunlo Ajmal, Assam ko ghuspetiyo ke adda phir se nahin banne denge (Ajmal listen carefully we will not allow Assam to become a hub for infiltrators again)", Shah said.
Shah began the day with a rally at Bijni constituency in Chirang district that comes under Bodoland Territorial Region followed by public meetings at Hajo in Kamrup (Rural) and Dispur in Kamrup (Metropolitan) districts.
"Ajmal claims that the 'lock and key' of forming the next government is in his hands and he will decide who will form the next government in Assam, but he does not realise that the 'taala aur chabi' Assam ke janta ke haath mein hain (the lock and key is with the people of Assam)", he said. (PTI)
BJP national president J P Nadda campaigns for Baishali Dalmiya, the party's candidate from Bally constituency in Howrah district in West Bengal.
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Upping the ante against the BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday asserted that he is not like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who "lies to India 24/7".
Gandhi, while addressing an election rally in Chaygaon constituency in Assam's Kamrup district, urged people to listen to him if they want to hear the truth.
"I haven't come here to lie to you. My name is not Narendra Modi. If you wish to hear him lie about Assam, farmers or any other issue, switch on the television. He lies to India 24/7. If you want to listen to the truth, hear me out," he said.
"People from different languages, ethnicities and ideologies are peacefully listening to me. This is Assam. But the BJP makes one brother fight another and spreads hatred. They give tea garden contracts to outsiders.
"Assam will elect its own chief minister when the Congress comes to power. The state won't be governed by Nagpur (RSS headquarters) or Delhi," he said. (PTI)
Accusing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of issuing threats to its supporters in her rallies, BJP has registered a complaint with the Election Commission over comments made by her.
In its letter to the poll panel, BJP on Tuesday alleged, despite "pro-active" role of the commission, "large-scale violence" has been reported during past several days due to such utterances by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief.
To back up its claim, the letter mentioned a widely circulated video of a meeting addressed by Banerjee at Nandigram on March 29. "In the meeting she said the central paramilitary forces will go one day, but she will stay in Bengal. Who will then save her rivals," the letter quoted Banerjee as saying.
Raising objection to the TMC supremo's remarks, the letter signed by BJP leaders Shishir Bajoria, Arjun Singh and Pratap Banerjee said, "Such statements are threat to free, fair and peaceful elections ... and have been brought to the notice of the commission." (PTI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday wrote to non-BJP leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, MK Stalin, Tejashwi Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, Arvind Kejriwal, and Naveen Patnaik, stating that the time has come for a "united and effective struggle" against BJP's "attacks on democracy and constitutional federalism".
In the letter, Mamata said that in states governed by non-BJP parties, the BJP-led Centre is creating problems for duly elected government by misusing governor's office.
The West Bengal CM also said the passage of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) (GNCTD) Bill is a "grave development" and the BJP has snatched practically all powers of a democratically elected government. The GNCTD Bill gives more power to Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, making the AAP government in Delhi to seek the means the LG's opinion before taking any executive action.
"LG has been made undeclared Viceroy of Delhi, acting as proxy for home minister and PM," the CM said.
The Kerala poll results along with those of other states will mark the beginning of the Congress' comeback nationally and its return to Delhi in 2024, former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy said on Wednesday.
Chandy, who is among the top contenders to be the chief minister if the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) gets a majority in the Kerala polls, said there would be "no problem" in the selection of the CM after the polls if voted to power and the high command's decision in the matter would be acceptable to all the leaders.
Expressing confidence that the UDF would come to power, Chandy said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the last assembly elections made so many promises but could not fulfil any of them, and asserted that the people can see the difference between the LDF and the UDF.
"The slogan of UDF is development and care, development of state and care stands for special attention to the weaker sections. We fulfilled our promises (when in government)," said Chandy, who was the chief minister from August 2004 to May 2006 and then from May 2011 to May 2016. (PTI)
Addressing a poll rally in Alipurduar, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said, "Every year, West Bengal sends Rs 75,000 crores to the Central government. But when they send Rs 1,000 crores for Amphan relief, BJP leaders say it has been sent by Modi Ji. This is our money, not of fathers of BJP leaders."
"Many leaders are coming to Bengal from Delhi for the election campaign. I challenge them to speak for only 2 minutes in Bengali. I challenge them. I am ready to speak in Hindi in any part of the country," he added.
(ANI)
Speaking at a campaign rally in Assam's Kamrup district, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "I've not come here to lie to you. My name isn't Narendra Modi. If you want to listen to lies - about Assam, farmers, about anything - then switch on your TV, look at Narendra Modi's face & listen to him as much as you want. He lies to India all 24 hours." (ANI)
While campaigning in West Bengal, BJP Chief JP Nadda said, "I saw TMC workers celebrating Saraswati puja very enthusiastically this year. Where were you in last 4 yrs? Now, Mamata Ji is performing 'Chandi paath'. Why didn't you do it earlier? She is doing it now because people have decided that her departure is certain." (ANI)
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah in Chirang: "I have come here to promise you that Govt of India will implement every single promise made in Bodo agreement before 2022 for a peaceful Assam."
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah in Chirang: "Rahul Baba is in Assam as a tourist nowadays. He says Badruddin Ajmal is Assam's identity. You tell me if Ajmal is Assam's identity or Bhupen Hazarika, Upendra Nath & Shankar Dev. Black Mountain Badruddin Ajmal can't be Assam's identity."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday visited the famed Kamakhya temple in Guwahati and offered puja. Speaking to reporters at the temple, Gandhi said that unlike the BJP his party keeps the promises made to the people during the elections.
Replying to a question that what his party will do if it wins the state elections, Gandhi said, "We have promised five guarantees". Asked how the Congress will fulfil the 'five guarantees', Gandhi shot back, "Do you know what guarantee means? We are not like BJP, we fulfill what we promise." The Congress leader said that in Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka his party had promised to waive farm loans and did it after assuming power.
"In Assam, we have guaranteed to raise the tea garden workers' daily wage to Rs 365," he said, referring to one of the five promises. Gandhi offered prayers at the Shaktipeeth atop the Nilachal Hill prior to setting out for election rallies at Chaygaon and Barkhetri, which will go to the polls in the last phase on April 6. (PTI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged the Election Commission to take action, alleging that goons from other states have come to Nandigram to foment trouble and intimidate the voters.
Speaking to reporters before hitting the campaign trail for the later phases, Banerjee alleged that locals are being hounded out of various villages in the assembly constituency in the Purba Medinipur district. "Goons from other states have entered Nandigram to intimidate the voters. The villagers of Balarampur and many other areas are being hounded out. They are intimidating voters," she alleged.
"We are lodging a complaint with the EC. The Election Commission must take note of it and take action," she added. BJP leader Jaiprakash Majumdar said that although it is for the EC to look into the allegations, but it seems that sensing defeat the chief minister is making such claims in advance. (PTI)