Kolkata, April 8 – The upcoming two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal, scheduled for later this month, are not just a challenge for the Trinamool Congress, but also for the common people of West Bengal, as all will be forced to become vegetarians if the BJP comes to power in the state after these elections, claimed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday.
“We have to win this battle at any cost. Otherwise, the consumption of non-vegetarian foods like eggs, meat, and fish will be banned in the state. The future of the next generation in the state will be jeopardized. Therefore, please cast your vote wisely. Do not allow the BJP to gain any foothold,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said while addressing a campaign rally in Sreerampore, Hooghly district, on Wednesday.
Speaking about the renewed activities of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the state, the Chief Minister stated that the central agencies were being selectively used against Trinamool Congress leaders solely to harass them before the elections.
“Have you ever seen the CBI or ED targeting any CPI(M) leader? This is because the CPI(M) leadership has sided with the BJP. Why are these central agencies always targeting us? Because they know that the people of West Bengal are with us and, therefore, we have not learned to accept defeat easily,” the Chief Minister said.
According to her, the supply of cooking gas had been maintained smoothly in West Bengal, keeping in mind the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. “But I assure you that all of this will be rectified after the elections are over. The BJP is set to ruin the entire country,” the Chief Minister said.
Speaking on the occasion, she indirectly admitted that her personal electoral battle from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata would be slightly challenging due to the deletion of a large number of voters from her constituency.
“I submitted my nomination from Bhabanipur today. They have deleted several names from there. But I care deeply about the people of Bhabanipur. I stay with them for 365 days a year. I live in Bhabanipur. I have faith in the voters there,” the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress released the list of star campaigners for the second phase of elections in West Bengal, scheduled for April 29. The list included the same names as the star campaigners for the first phase, which is scheduled for April 23, with Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress' National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee being the first two names.