In a scathing attack on the TMC, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have escalated their criticism, proclaiming that the downfall of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government is only a matter of time. During a party event in his Bongaon Lok Sabha constituency, BJP MP Shantanu Thakur boldly stated that the TMC government's tenure would not extend beyond five months. Thakur attributed his prediction to alleged widespread rigging during the recently concluded panchayat polls, claiming that the BJP would have secured a significantly higher number of seats had it not been for the TMC's interference.
Thakur, who also serves as the Union Minister of State for Shipping, declared that the Mamata Banerjee government has outlived its utility and criticized the State Election Commission (SEC) for failing to fulfill its role impartially. Expressing his hunch about the government's limited remaining lifespan, he emphasized the need for change in West Bengal's governance.
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Following an organizational meeting to evaluate the party's performance in the panchayat polls, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar echoed Thakur's sentiments, stating that anything can happen at any time in politics. Majumdar suggested the possibility of a people's uprising against TMC's alleged misrule and terror, as well as the hypothetical scenario of TMC MLAs refusing to comply with Mamata Banerjee's leadership. While acknowledging that these events may or may not occur, he emphasized the potential for unexpected developments in the realm of politics.
Regarding his recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, Majumdar expressed confidence that the central government would take all necessary measures to protect the lives of innocent people in West Bengal, insinuating that the Centre may intervene to address the state's law and order situation.
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The Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, had previously called for the imposition of Article 355 in West Bengal, emphasizing the need for central intervention due to the violence witnessed during the panchayat polls. Adhikari stated that while a democratically elected government cannot be toppled, if it fails to fulfill its constitutional duties, the Centre must intervene to prevent lawlessness from taking hold.
Reacting to these assertions, TMC Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Santanu Sen dismissed the claims made by BJP leaders, including Adhikari, as mere attempts to raise their ratings in Delhi. Sen highlighted the TMC's massive mandate in the last election and the party's continued popularity among the masses, challenging the BJP's narrative. He further asserted that the people of West Bengal would thwart any misadventure by the BJP, suggesting that the BJP leaders' predictions have been proven wrong in the past.
Similarly, TMC state general secretary and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed the BJP leaders' claims as efforts to boost the morale of their disheartened rank and file following the disappointing results of the panchayat polls. Ghosh emphasized that the BJP leaders themselves are aware of the absurdity of their claims, casting doubt on the credibility of their predictions.
