Mamata Banerjee fumes over BJP’s armed Navami rallies

Kolkata: Expressing her doubts over the BJP’s performance in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday wondered whether the saffron party would at all be able to win 10 seats out of 91 where the first phase of polls was  held on April 11. She underlined that the BJP may not be able to cross the tally of 100 seats even altogether while dismissing the party’s prospect to come to power for the second time in a row.

The West Bengal chief minister told a rally in Siliguri of North Bengal, “Elections were held in 91 seats. Out of that the BJP got 32 last time. But I have come to know that they would not even get 10 this time. It is a total loss, a big zero for them. They would be fortunate if they can cross 100. Still they are dreaming of forming the government.

Alleging foul play by the NDA-led BJP government through demonetisation, GST, banking reforms, atrocities on the dalits and minority communities she said, “We will not even leave a single vote. A single vote is the jote (alliance) to oust Narendra Modi from power. It is an alliance of the mass. Throw them (BJP) out of power.”

Tearing into the BJP for taking out rallies with arms to celebrate Ram Navami in the state the Trinamul chief accused them of selling religion desperately for political gains.

Furious over the display of mace and sword by state BJP president and party candidate of Kharagpur Dilip Ghosh, Ms Banerjee said, “Carrying mace and sword some people have hit the street to seek votes. What have these things to do with politics? Whose head will you smash with mace? Who will you behead with sword?"