Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday escalated her attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the BJP, vowing to continue her political and legal fight despite what she described as intimidation and a crackdown on her supporters.
Addressing a rally in Serampore in West Bengal’s Hooghly district on Saturday, the former chief minister said she would not be deterred by pressure and declared, “If I am targeted, I will retaliate”. She also urged people to protest against Kumar and demand his removal.
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Banerjee appealed to people to remain united despite political differences, insisting that the TMC would not be intimidated.
“We will not get scared, but will not spare the BJP either,” she said, signalling that her confrontation with the BJP, the state government and the Election Commission is set to continue.
The TMC president alleged that police had detained around 100-150 TMC supporters in Serampore since Friday night to prevent them from attending her meeting.
She accused the police of intimidating people and said their role was to protect citizens rather than stop them from participating in political programmes. She also alleged that she was being prevented from leaving her residence.
A major focus of her speech was the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and her continuing demand for action against Kumar.
Referring to the Chief Election Commissioner as “Vanish Kumar”, Banerjee alleged that the SIR exercise had resulted in around 93 lakh names being deleted or placed under adjudication in West Bengal.
She claimed the exercise was intended to benefit the BJP and said all evidence of alleged irregularities had been preserved and would be presented before the courts.
“Vanish (Gyanesh) Kumar must go. Until he resigns, our agitation will continue,” Banerjee said, while warning that the actions of the CEC were on record. She also said Kumar should not be the only official held accountable and named election official Seema Khanna and others whom she alleged had supported the process.
REJINAGAR, NANDIGRAM BYPOLLS
Banerjee further alleged that the BJP had used the police and administration to intimidate voters, particularly in Rejinagar and Nandigram ahead of the October 6 Assembly bypolls.
In Rejinagar, she accused the police of acting on behalf of the BJP and alleged that voter identity cards were being taken away from members of the minority community.
Referring to the 2026 Assembly elections, Banerjee repeated her allegation that the polls had been rigged. “We did not lose; we were forcibly defeated,” she said, citing a conversation with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in which, she claimed, he told her that central forces had been promised leave if they helped rig the election.
She also widened her attack to the state government, accusing it of filing false cases and carrying out what she described as political intimidation.
Banerjee alleged that Hindus and Adivasis were being subjected to harassment and said both Hindus and Muslims had suffered violence.
The TMC chief also took up the issue of street vendors and hawkers, criticising eviction drives and demanding compensation for those who had lost their livelihoods.
She said she would fight their cases in court along with senior party leader and Serampore MP Kalyan Banerjee.
The TMC supremo accused the BJP-led state government of making unfulfilled promises to Bengal’s people, including assurances linked to welfare schemes. She said the issue of livelihoods and welfare would remain part of her political campaign.
INDIA BLOC SET FOR GRAND MEET
Her remarks come amid growing opposition coordination over the Election Commission and SIR. CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby has contacted opposition leaders, and Banerjee has agreed to participate in a meeting in Delhi.
Communications have also been exchanged with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. INDIA bloc parties are expected to meet on September 30 to discuss the Election Commission, SIR and related issues.
The meeting is expected to bring opposition parties together over their concerns regarding the Election Commission and SIR. With Banerjee maintaining pressure on Kumar and the BJP, the issue is likely to remain central to Bengal’s political discourse.
– Ends
With PTI inputs
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
