Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday claimed that 40 MLAs of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are in touch with him and many of them will leave the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after 23 May, when Lok Sabha election results are announced.
Addressing a BJP rally in Serampore, the PM expressed confidence that the “lotus (BJP symbol) will bloom everywhere”
“Didi, on 23 May when the results come, lotus will bloom everywhere and your MLAs will leave you. Even today 40 of your MLAs are in contact with me,” the PM said at the rally in this municipal town in Hoogly district.
“It will be tough for you to save yourself. You have cheated the people of Bengal,” he said.
Reacting to the PM’s remarks, TMC MP Derek O’Brien said that the party will file a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) accusing the PM of horse trading.
“Expiry Babu PM, let’s get this straight. Nobody will go with you. Not even one councillor. Are you election campaigning or horse trading! Your expiry date is near. Today, we are complaining to the Election Commission. Charging you with horse trading,” he tweeted.
Expiry Babu PM , let’s get this straight. Nobody will go with you. Not even one councillor. Are you election campaigning or horse trading! Your expiry date is near. Today, we are complaining to the Election Commission. Charging you with horse trading #LokSabhaElection2019
— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) April 29, 2019
Modi said that the people of Bengal had only one motto in this Lok Sabha election.
“They have only one motto… chup chap kamal chap, booth booth se TMC saaf (Silently vote for the lotus symbol, remove TMC from all booths),” the PM said.
He also took a jibe at Banerjee over her remarks that she will offer rosogolla made of soil and pebbles to the PM.
“Didi said she wants to give me rosogolla made of soil and pebbles. Soil of Bengal has essence of greats like Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, JC Bose, Netaji (Subhas Chandra Bose), SP Mukherjee; if Modi gets rosogolla made of this holy soil then it will be a ‘prasad’ for Modi,” he said.
The Bengal CM had recently responded to the PM’s claim in an interview with Akshay Kumar that the TMC chief sends sweets to him.
“Bengal will give you rosogolla now. What will be the type? We will make the sweet with clay and fill it with gravel exactly the way cashew nuts and raisins are put in laddoos so that when Modi tries to have a bite, his teeth will break,” she had said at an election rally in Raniganj.
The PM also slammed Banerjee for poll violence reported from the state.
“Goons of TMC are trying their hardest to stop people from voting and attacking BJP workers; they are not letting BJP leaders campaign,” he said.
The PM’s remarks came on the day when violent incidents were reported from Asansol.
Incumbent BJP MP Babul Supriyo’s car was vandalised and TMC workers clashed with BJP supporters at various places in the constituency.
There were also reports of clashes between TMC supporters and police.