Bhabanipur by-polls: BJP goes for a high-profile campaign, Trinamool lies low on last day of campaign

Although many expected a last moment scintillating roadshow by the Trinamool Congress candidate and West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, to everyone's surprise, she kept herself away from the campaign.

Kolkata: On the last day of the campaigning for the bye-elections for the Bhabanipur assembly constituency on Monday, BJP went for a high-profile safari throughout the constituency, while Trinamool Congress leadership decided to maintain a low profile.

Although many expected a last moment scintillating roadshow by the Trinamool Congress candidate and West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, to everyone's surprise, kept herself away from the campaign. Only in the morning hours, her trusted lieutenant and state transport minister, Firhad Hakim moved in certain areas of Bhabanipur along with his followers scouting votes for the chief minister.

However, many top state-level BJP leaders went on a series of campaign safaris from early Monday morning till late noon. Former state president, Dilip Ghosh, who is currently the party's national vice president and party MP, hogged the limelight on Monday noon, after he faced the wrath of agitated Trinamool Congress during his campaign.

The BJP leadership alleged that Ghosh was manhandled and heckled by the Trinamool Congress supporters. The matter created tension at the Jadubabur Bazar area in South Kolkata. On Monday after Ghosh reached the area for campaigning, the local Trinamool Congress supporters started agitating and shouting "Go Back" slogans. He was even stopped from moving ahead. A scuffle broke out between the BJP and Trinamool Congress supporters resulting in a BJP supporter receiving head injuries. He was later hospitalized.

Even Ghosh lost his cool at one point of time. "I am not a eunuch. Even I can retaliate," he was heard shouting towards the Trinamool Congress workers. At another point, his bodyguards had to aim their service pistols towards the agitated Trinamool Congress workers.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought a report from the state government on the attack. Accordingly, the state government has forwarded a detailed report to ECI along with the video footage of the incident. The state government's report, which was submitted at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal at Kolkata has also been forwarded to the commission's main office in New Delhi. The commission has sought a report from the state government detailing the circumstances where Ghosh's bodyguards had to point their service revolvers towards the agitated crowd with whom Ghosh reportedly had a scuffle.

Giving his reactions to the development, the BJP's new state president in West Bengal, Sukanta Majumdar said that the Trinamool Congress launched the attack out of fear of defeat. Meanwhile, State Minister Firhad Hakim said that BJP is resorting to such theatrics out of fear of defeat. "In Bhabanipur BJP neither has any organizational strength nor any polling agent," he said.

Senior Trinamool Congress MLA, Madan Mitra said that Dilip Ghosh has already lost his position in the party and now it is time for Suvendu Adhikari to forego his chair as the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly.

Senior Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member described the event as the expression of natural agony of the people of Bhabanipur since several times in the past Ghosh had used unparliamentary adjectives about the chief minister.

Later in the day, Adhikari campaigned for BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal and said that if Tibrewal is able to defeat the chief minister in by-election he will recommend to the party high command to give her the chair of the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly.

Adhikari ready to offer his chair to Tibrewal if she wins

“I will recommend this to the high command if she gets elected. I will be happy to vacate the chair for her,” said Adhikari. Adhikari earned the chair of the leader of the opposition in West Bengal after defeating the chief minister from Nandigram in the last assembly by-polls this year.

Launching a scathing attack against the chief minister on Monday, Adhikari said that the chief minister has deliberately forced the elections on the people of Bhabanipur. “By-elections happen if the elected representative from that constituency either dies or changes the party. But the winning Trinamool Congress from Bhabanipur in the last election, Sobhondeb Chattopadhyay, is still with the Trinamool Congress. The court has already questioned the justification of spending Rs 3 crore for this unnecessary by-election. I will request the court to impose a penalty of Rs 5 crore on Trinamool Congress,” Adhikari said.

Speaking on the occasion, he also said that post-independence India has not come across a second shameless politician like the chief minister. ”She contested from Nandigram in the last elections, understanding that the situation in Bhabanipur was tough. She contested from Nandigram to defeat Subhendu Adhikari. But she herself got defeated,” he said.

“The chief minister portrays herself as a symbol of abandonment. She is seeking votes to remain in the chair of the chief minister. And I am saying that if Priyanka Tibrewal wins, my chair should be gifted to her,” he said.

Read:Suvendhu Adhikari urges EC to realise Rs 5 cr from TMC for forcing by-poll in Bhabanipur