The Election Commission behaved like BJP’s spokesperson, TMC supremo says in first reaction to her party’s spectacular win
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, after registering a spectacular victory for her party, has lost her own election in Nandigram to one time ally and protege Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP. Her immediate reaction was “it is not a big deal. I accept people’s verdict in Nandigram.
Speaking to reporters in Kolkata she, however, said that she would approach the court over the “mischief”. She lost the Nandigram seat by 10,000 votes. Earlier reports had indicated that she has won by a margin of 1,200 votes.
“Let the Nandigram people give whatever verdict they want, I accept that. Nandigram was a sacrifice that was needed in the larger victory. We have won the state,” she said. “Whatever happened is for the best. I will not have to go that far regularly now, I am saved in that way. But I will go to the court because I have heard there were some malpractices,” she told reporters.
The TMC is leading in over 200 seats now. Reacting to her party’s performance, she hailed the people of Bengal. “This is a victory for the people of Bengal. I am proud to say that Bengal saved the country. The Election Commission behaved badly with us — they behaved like BJP’s spokesperson. Two slogans — ‘Khela hobe’ and ‘Joy Bangla’ — worked well for us. Bengal won the match. We will distribute 50,000 footballs among clubs in rural Bengal.”
She also pointed out that combating Covid-19 will be the topmost priority of her government.
“Combating Covid-19 will be our topmost priority. The swearing-in will be a low-key event because of the prevailing situation. We will weather this storm. We will distribute free vaccines to everyone. Also request the Centre to distribute free vaccines to all. If this does not happen, I will sit on a dharna in front of the Gandhi Murti (in Kolkata),” she said.
The chief minister added, “We appeal to everyone not to do a victory rally now. But this will be after Covid is defeated. We will do a big victory rally at the Brigade Parade Ground later after the situation is normal.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and NCP leader Sharad Pawar were among those who congratulated Banerjee for TMC’s performance.