More people watch 'JCB ki khudai' than crowd at Amit Shah's rally: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee
Dantan/Chandrakona (WB), Mar 15: Launching a stinging attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the cancellation of his Jhargram rally due to "technical glitches", TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee on Monday said more people watch excavation work by an earthmover or sip tea at a shop than those attending the senior BJP leader's public meeting.
Slamming the BJP, he said when the saffron party could not turn states ruled by it like UP, Gujarat or Assam golden, how can it deliver the promise of making West Bengal 'Sonar Bangla' (golden Bengal).
The parliamentarian from Diamond Harbour constituency, also Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew, wondered whether the BJP was planning to make 'Sonar Bangla' by extracting gold from cow milk, alluding to an earlier statement by state BJP Dilip Ghosh that had triggered outrage and ridicule.
"Union Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled rally at Jhargram was cancelled due to some technical glitch, it seems.
Anyways, the photos of the rally that I have received show very few people. More people watch excavation work done by an earthmover or sip tea at a village shop than those present at the senior BJP leader's public meeting.
"On the other hand, the massive participation of people in the TMC's rallies indicate that the party will return to power in the state on May 2 by bagging over 250 seats," he said, while addressing a rally at Chandrakona in Paschim Medinipur district.
Calling for "driving out outsiders" coming to the state to seek votes, he said the "leader of the outsiders" is in Paschim Medinipur, where Shah is canvassing for party candidates.
"When there is no Sonar UP, Sonar Assam or Sonar Gujarat, how can the BJP promise to deliver Sonar Bangla? It appears Dilip Ghosh will build Sonar Bangla by extracting gold from cow milk," he said in another rally in Dantan in the district.
Banerjee said the BJP is divorced from the ethos of West Bengal and hence chant 'Jai Shri Ram' instead of 'Jai Siyaram' which is closer to the heart of the people of the state.
Alleging that the BJP is using the central agencies to harass the TMC, he asserted, "But, we are not afraid."
He said that the BJP does not respect women, which is apparent in their way of criticising Mamata Banerjee, who is the only female chief minister in the country.
Banerjee alleged that while BJP leaders are peddling lies about landmark projects of the state government like Swasthya Sathi, Dilip Ghosh's family members are queuing to avail the scheme.
"If the BJP comes to power in the state, it will stop these schemes," he said.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
