Mamata Banerjee and Amit Shah (R)
NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday issued a strong statement aimed at taking on the BJP beyond Bengal, even setting her sights on New Delhi. Her remarks elicited a wry reaction from Union home minister Amit Shah, who said with a smile during a presser, “There’s nothing left here for Mamata. Why will she come to Delhi?” The political heat remains intense even after the conclusion of Phase 1 polling on April 23. Earlier in the day, the long-serving chief minister, in a bid to challenge the saffron party, made a bold remark about “conquering” the Narendra Modi-led BJP brigade at the national level.Addressing a poll rally in Chowringhee, the firebrand TMC supremo declared that she would “dismantle” the BJP at the Centre by bringing together all Opposition parties.Mamata launched a sharp attack on the BJP, warning that she is closely tracking those allegedly working for the party.“I have noted down the names of everyone acting as a broker for the BJP – from A to Z, along with details of where they live. So you think you can keep tabs on us? Every person you have inducted into the BJP was brought in after scrutinising their family background, and officers have been appointed using the same yardstick,” she said.Stepping up her rhetoric, Mamata asserted that the BJP would not be able to defeat her party. “Remember this — you do not have the capability to defeat us. We fight against injustice; we fight for our rights. I was born in Bengal and will breathe my last here. Once we win Bengal, I will take the fight to Delhi and unite all Opposition parties. I do not seek power; I seek the complete dismantling of the BJP in Delhi. While their defeat in Bengal is certain, the BJP must be removed from Delhi as well, mark my words,” she added.Mamata was addressing a rally in the Chowringhee constituency, which, along with other seats in Kolkata, will go to the polls in the second phase on April 29. She campaigned for TMC candidate and two-time MLA Nayna Bandopadhyay, who is contesting against the BJP’s Santosh Pathak.Chowringhee has remained a stronghold of the Trinamool Congress since its rise to power in 2011. The seat was earlier dominated by the Congress until former MLA Subrata Mukherjee joined the TMC in 2001. Prior to the state’s delimitation exercise, the constituency was known as the Chowringhee seat.The first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, held on Thursday, recorded a high voter turnout of 91.83 per cent. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
