Mamata launches campaign for 2021 Bengal Assembly polls

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while addressing a virtual rally of the TMC on 'Martyrs' Day' accused the BJP-led NDA government of 'hatching a conspiracy' to try and topple duly elected governments of opposition-ruled states by using central agencies and money power.

Kolkata:West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday took on the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, saying it had deprived Bengal in every possible way.

Addressing a virtual rally of the TMC on 'Martyrs' Day', she declared West Bengal will continue to be run by its own people and not 'outsiders', an apparent reference to challenger BJP. Banerjee alleged the Centre has deprived Bengal of resources, and asserted people will give a befitting reply to it for the injustice done to the state.

"A conspiracy is being hatched by the union government to destabilise the elected government of Bengal by using central agencies and money power. BJP is the most destructive party the country has ever seen. When the country is busy fighting the COVID pandemic, the BJP is busy destabilising the elected governments in Rajasthan and West Bengal after Madhya Pradesh," she said.

Banerjee went on to say: "They are playing a dirty game of politics. The BJP is trying to break Bengal. The Centre has not given anything to us. The BJP is purchasing MLAs in different states to topple governments."

She said the BJP thought they could rule all the states, but that won't be possible in Bengal. "They are maligning our government. The Centre has insulted us by not giving anything even after the devastating Cyclone Amphan. But they will not be able to capture Bengal," Banerjee said.

She asked party members to take a pledge to defeat the BJP in the Assembly polls, scheduled next year. "I urge everyone to gear up for the next's Assembly polls so that we can again assemble here on July 21 next year and celebrate our electoral victory. We will defeat them in such a way that all BJP candidates will lose their poll deposits," she said, pointing out that a wounded tigress was even more ferocious.

Banerjee said she was not scared of the Centre and urged people to keep faith in the TMC. "I know they (BJP) will start fresh conspiracy against me after this. But I am not scared. I know how to fight and I will not budge. They might torture me also, but I am not scared," she said and added the TMC would form the government in West Bengal in 2021 defeating the BJP and other political formations.

"If you trust the BJP, you will suffer and finally end up losing everything. I welcome everyone from the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the Congress and the BJP to come and join the TMC. They might have made mistakes, but it's still not too late. The TMC is the only political alternative in Bengal," she said.

Reacting to Banerjee's attack, BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said, "She has understood that the people of Bengal don't trust her government any more. That's why she has targeted the BJP. This is our political success. Earlier in 2019, she had claimed the TMC would secure all 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal. But the BJP bagged 18 seats."

Senior CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty said the people of Bengal had come to know that the TMC was a platform for political extortionists. "She is lying. Whatever she is saying is absolutely false. People will give her a befitting reply at the right time," he said.

(With inputs from IANS and PTI)