Kolkata, March 26: The Trinamool Congress will provide legal assistance to voters whose names will be deleted during the ongoing judicial review, said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday.
"The voters whose names will be deleted in the judicial review process will be provided with legal assistance by the Trinamool Congress. We will arrange lawyers for them," the Chief Minister said while addressing an election campaign in Pandaveswar, West Burdwan district, in the afternoon.
Her announcement came a day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) informed on Wednesday evening that of the 60 lakh cases referred for judicial review, the process had been completed for 32 lakh cases by Tuesday night, and around 40 per cent of those 32 lakh cases have been found to be invalid.
However, these voters, excluded from the judicial review process, will have the opportunity to approach any one of the 19 Appellate Tribunals constituted for that purpose.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister once again said that the women of West Bengal will have to take special initiative to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "However, they might attack us, but ultimately, the Trinamool Congress will emerge victorious. The women will have to take a leading role in that process," the Chief Minister said.
She also said that the BJP could go to any extent of electoral malpractice. "They can even resort to lockdowns, as was done during the Covid-19 pandemic period. But we know how to fight. If we were able to fight during the pandemic period, we will also be able to fight now," the Chief Minister said.
She also described the upcoming two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal as the "Kurukshetra Mahayudh", where the Trinamool Congress represents the Pandavas and the BJP represents the Kauravas.
She also criticized the Union government regarding the rules of LPG bookings. "Yesterday, I heard that the booking period for gas has been reduced to 25 days. I don't know if this is true or not; I don't trust them. You cannot book before 25 days! What will people do if they run out of gas?" the Chief Minister questioned.