India / BJP sends people to disturb TMC meets, now I'll do the same: Mamata

Kolkata: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the BJP has been sending some people to TMC’s meeting to “create disturbance”. The ruling Trinamool Congress’ chief further said that now she will send some people to disturb BJP and CPM meetings.

Addressing a rally in Purulia, Banerjee said, “I have been seeing for a few days that some people are being sent by BJP to create disturbance in our meeting. Now I will send some people to disturb BJP, CPM meetings.

Mounting her attack at the BJP, the Chief Minister went on to say that the saffron party is more dangerous than Maoists.

Commenting on the recent defection of some TMC leaders, Banerjee said, “Those who want to join BJP can leave but we will not bow our heads before the saffron party. Politics is solemn ideology, philosophy; one can change clothes daily but not ideologies.”

Mamata to contest WB polls from Nandigram

Banerjee on Monday announced that she will contest the upcoming election in the state from Nandigram, the home turf of political heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari, who recently switched over to the BJP from the TMC.

Addressing a rally in Nandigram, she said "I have always started my campaign for the assembly polls from Nandigram. It is a lucky place for me. So this time I feel that I should contest the assembly polls from here. I request our state party president Subrata Bakshi to approve my name from this seat.”

Taking a veiled attack at the defectors, the TMC chief said she would never allow "a handful of people" to sell out Bengal to the BJP.

Political violence in WB

As the election in West Bengal is nearing, political heat in the state appears to be soaring with the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP sparring over several issues. Elections to the 294-member state Assembly are due in April-May.

Several incidents of political violence have come to light in the state over the past months for which the two parties have blamed each other.

On Monday, BJP activists were pelted with stones allegedly by TMC workers during a saffron party’s rally in Kolkata on Monday. The rally was attended by Union minister Debasree Chaudhuri, state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh and Adhikari.

Last month, BJP chief JP Nadda’s convoy was attacked allegedly by TMC workers near Kolkata when he was on his way to Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district to address a meeting of party workers.

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi and discussed the possibility of violence in the upcoming Assembly elections among other issues.