Launching a fierce attack against the BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said people of her state don't want the BJP and don't want to see the face of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Even as a league of BJP heavyweights are campaigning for the saffron party in the state, the chief minister said, "We don't want riots, looters, Duryodhan, Dushasana." She was addressing a campaign rally in East Midnapore.
Claiming that she was betrayed by the TMC turncoats, she said she gave them blind love, but in turn they betrayed her. She claimed that they had been in touch with the BJP since 2014, and added that she is sorry that she trusted them. In an obvious reference to former state ministers Suvendu Adhikari and Rajib Banerjee who have deserted her camp, the TMC supremo said, "Gaddars, Mir Jafars (traitors) have now become candidates of the BJP, much to the dismay of the saffron party's old-timers."
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The TMC chief urged voters "to be on guard against outsiders appearing in their localities".
Speaking about her decision to contest from Nandigram, she said, "Many people had asked me why I decided to contest from faraway Nandigram rather than a constituency in Kolkata. I replied, I chose it since the movement against land acquisition in Nandigram and Singur had played a significant role. Also, I consider every corner of West Bengal as my own place."
Taking on PM Modi, who had in an election rally on Thursday, said the chief minister's game will be over (khela shesh hobe) when votes for the assembly elections are counted on May 2, she said "Modi uses a teleprompter and says Kemon Aacho Bangla (How are you Bangla)? We say Bangla bhalo aachey (Bengal is good). Poriborton is my slogan. Why will you steal my slogan, you copycat? Khela Hobe," reports NDTV.
Asserting that the victory of the TMC in the assembly polls "will be the precursor to dislodging the BJP in Delhi, Banerjee said "If you want me to be at the helm again, make every TMC candidate a winner."
—With PTI inputs
