A number of news agencies have reported that the BJP has extended invitations to the families of over 50 workers killed in political violence in West Bengal to attend the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. The workers were killed in incidents of violence involving the BJP and ruling TMC during last year's panchayat polls in West Bengal and the recent Lok Sabha polls.
NDTV reported that the families of the slain BJP workers were invited, following a marathon meeting between Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. ANI quoted the son of Manu Hansda, one of the slain BJP workers, who declared, “My father was killed by TMC goons. We are happy that we are going to Delhi. There's peace in our area now.” The kin of the slain BJP workers are among the 7,000 invitees to Modi's swearing-in.
The move, if confirmed, appears intended to send a message to the TMC and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about the BJP's commitment to wrest power in West Bengal. The BJP won 18 of the 42 seats in the state, massively improving its vote share, confirming its emergence as the TMC's main rival.
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On Tuesday, two TMC MLAs and over 50 councillors joined the BJP in Delhi. The saffron party has warned more would join in the coming days. During campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, Modi had warned Banerjee at a rally that “40 TMC MLAs were in touch with me” to cross over to the BJP after the Lok Sabha elections.
On Wednesday, BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha was quoted by ANI as saying, “I think Vidhan Sabha elections will be held within 6 months to one year in West Bengal. The current government will not be able to continue till 2021. There is lot of dissatisfaction in TMC. The TMC government is being run by police and CID pressure.”