Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday called on the people of West Bengal to vote fearlessly ahead of the state assembly elections and unseat the Trinamool Congress (TMC) from power.
Speaking at the nomination filing ceremony of senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, Shah electrified the crowd by declaring, “This time no one needs to be afraid; no goon can stop the voters of Bengal. Everyone should vote without any fear so that TMC can be uprooted and washed away in the Bay of Bengal.”
Shah made a direct appeal to the people of Bhabanipur constituency, from where TMC leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting. He called upon the people to support Adhikari and ensure change in the state government.
He said, “I appeal to the people of Bengal to help Suvendu Adhikari win this election. We want to create ‘Sonar Bangla’, and that is why we have to defeat TMC.” He stressed that the ruling party is plagued with corruption.
Shah said, “There will be change in West Bengal. But do you want change in Bhabanipur or not? I have come here to appeal for your votes for my candidate Suvendu Adhikari.”
Shah also highlighted the BJP’s comprehensive vision for West Bengal and referred to the party’s development agenda since 2014.
He said, “Since 2014, people who have kept faith in Modi ji have seen change. Help BJP form the government and see change in Bengal. Last time Mamata lost the elections, this time she will get a crushing defeat across Bengal.”
The Union Minister began his speech with the slogan “Jai Shri Ram” and stressed the need for collective action. He said, “The same voice is being heard everywhere that this government will have to be changed. Say goodbye to Mamata.”
He announced that he would stay in the state for 15 days to campaign during the assembly elections.
Earlier in the day, Suvendu Adhikari had said, “Mamata Banerjee is going to lose.”
Adhikari is contesting the West Bengal Assembly elections in two phases from Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket.
This time in the West Bengal elections, there will be a contest between Adhikari and Banerjee for the Bhabanipur seat, while Adhikari will also try to retain the Nandigram seat.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost to Adhikari on the Nandigram seat in the 2021 assembly elections, but later won against Priyanka Tibrewal in the Bhabanipur bypoll.
Voting for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
In the last assembly elections held in eight phases in the state in 2021, Trinamool Congress registered a landslide victory with 213 seats in a tough fight with the BJP, while the BJP got 77 seats. Congress and the Left Front could not win a single seat in the last state elections.
