Mr Shah’s swipe comes a day after he personally welcomed five former members of the Chief Minister’s Trinamool into the BJP
New Delhi: Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “will be left alone” to face the Assembly election – due in a few weeks – Home Minister Amit Shah said Sunday afternoon as he addressed – via video-conferencing – a rally in Howrah district.
Mr Shah’s swipe comes a day after he personally welcomed five former members of the Trinamool into the BJP, to continue a flood of defections from the ruling party that began with ex-Nandigram MLA and cabinet minister Suvendu Adhikari.
“Mamata Banerjee should reflect on why so many Trinamool Congress leaders are joining the BJP. It is because she has failed the people of the state. By the time elections arrive, she will be left alone,” the Home Minister was quoted by news agency PTI.
Mr Shah’s swipe was also a repeat of his taunt from mid-December, when he welcomed Mr Adhikari into the party.
“Why are so many people leaving… Because of misrule, corruption and nepotism.. Didi (Ms Banerjee), this is just the beginning. By the time elections come, you will be all alone,” he had said.
The BJP, which has never been in power in Bengal, has made no secret of its strategy in this election – to poach as many leaders as possible from the ruling Trinamool.
So far Ms Banerjee’s Trinamool has lost dozens of big names to its rival, including Mr Adhikari and former Forest Minister Rajib Banerjee, who was among the five leaders flown to Delhi yesterday – on a special flight arranged by the BJP – to meet Amit Shah and join the party.
Apart from those two, several MLAs and leaders from the Trinamool, the Left and the Congress have jumped ship to the BJP in recent days and weeks.
The BJP has also repeatedly attacked Ms Banerjee over allegations she favours her nephew – Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee – over senior party leaders – an allegation often levelled by Mr Adhikari in his final days as a Trinamool member, and repeated by Mr Shah today.
“… the Mamata Banerjee government is working towards ‘bhatija kalyan (serving her nephew)’… (but) I want to make it clear that if the BJP comes to power, the Modi government will work toward ‘jan kalyan (serving the people)’,” Mr Shah said.
The Home Minister also doubled down on accusations of corruption against the Trinamool, against whom “tolabaj bhaipo (extortionist nephew)” has become a popular punchline.
Amit Shah was due to address today’s rally in person as part of a two-day visit to the state. However, he cancelled his plans on Friday; source said this was because of a low-intensity blast near the Israel embassy in Delhi earlier that day.
Union Minister Smriti Irani filled him for in at the rally.
(Courtesy: NDTV)
