Kolkata, April 1 Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that officials recently appointed by the Election Commission were tasked with rejecting the nominations of her party's election candidates and urged them to be cautious while filing their nominations.
Addressing three election rallies in the state, Banerjee accused the BJP of misusing central agencies and bringing in people from outside for its political benefit.
"Everything has changed; it's a new setup here. The newly appointed officers by the EC are tasked with rejecting your nomination; so be cautious while filing your nominations. Take lawyers with you while filing nomination," she said at the rally in Nanoor in Birbhum district.
The West Bengal chief minister also urged people, especially women, not to vote for the BJP.
"They (BJP) are anti-women, that's why their names are being deleted in SIR citing logical discrepancy," she said.
Banerjee accused the BJP of seeking bank account details of poor people ahead of the polls.
“Before the Bihar elections, money was quietly transferred into accounts. Here too, I am hearing that they are asking poor people for bank account details. Do not share them, or they will take away whatever you have,” she said.
The TMC chief alleged that the BJP was trying to bring in people from Bengal to vote, and said, "People from Delhi will not be able to take over Bengal till I am here".
The CM also welcomed the Supreme Court's observations on SIR and said that she was "happy" with it.
Earlier in the day, the apex court said the appellate tribunals will be deciding appeals that will be filed by the persons whose names have been excluded from the voter lists and those of the authorities of the poll panel against the alleged wrongful inclusions.
Referring to voter roll revisions, Banerjee claimed that her government had approached the Supreme Court and managed to restore around 22 lakh names so far, while around 18 lakh names were yet to be reinstated.
She said those affected would have to appeal before tribunals, and the government would bear the expenses.
At the Nanoor rally, where party strongman Anubrata Mondal was missing, Banerjee alleged that the land of Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen in Santiniketan was being taken away, and she had to intervene.
Banerjee asked the people to defeat the BJP in the elections, so that they would not have to stand in queues in the future.
Later, speaking at another rally in Burwan, the CM alleged large-scale deletion of voters’ names in several constituencies, claiming that around 30,000 names were removed in Dinhata and nearly 40,000 in Bhabanipur, her constituency.
But these will not help the BJP win the election, Banerjee said and asked people to consider her as the candidate in all 294 assembly constituencies.
Later, addressing another rally in Nabagram in the adjoining Murshidabad district, she said her government would not only provide allowances to the youth but also ensure livelihood opportunities for them.
She further alleged that names of Hindus, Muslims and Adivasis had been deleted from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
Banerjee also hit out at the Centre's oft-repeated allegation of infiltration in the state, saying if such incidents had taken place, the responsibility lay with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
“If infiltration has happened anywhere, they are responsible. I have written to them on this,” she said.
She criticised the Centre over the LPG prices, claiming that prices had been increased again recently.
“After the elections, you may not even get gas and will have to cook on traditional stoves. The TMC government is providing free ration, while the BJP is taking credit. Do they (BJP) feel no shame?” she said.
Defending the ‘Yubasathi’ scheme, Banerjee said it was not a dole but “pocket money” to support youth.
“Many poor youths have already received the money. Those who have applied but not yet received it need not worry, the process is underway,” she said, adding that beneficiaries of the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme would also receive funds.