WEST Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Sunday alleged that the ruling TMC has deprived people of their basic rights, asserting that a “new dawn” awaits the State if his party comes to power in the upcoming Assembly elections. Bhattacharya claimed that the TMC Government had denied people basic rights such as access to clean drinking water, housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, livelihood opportunities, and the democratic right to exercise their franchise freely. “Once the BJP comes to power, people’s rights will be restored. Our Government will reach out to all sections to build an inclusive system where the wishes and aspirations of every citizen are respected,” he said. Bhattacharya, a Rajya Sabha MP, said the BJP would ensure the rule of law in the State and put an end to what he described as “divisive and provocative politics”.

 

“Strict legal action will be taken against those who attempt to divide people along religious lines,” he said. Listing some of the party’s promises, he said the BJP would implement the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission for State Government employees, provide a monthly assistance of Rs 3,000 to women, and create employment opportunities to prevent migration of youths. He welcomed the Election Commission’s decision to conduct the upcoming Assembly polls in two phases. Responding to a question on the two-phase polling in West Bengal, unlike single-phase elections in some other States, Bhattacharya said the situation does not bring “glory” to the State and needs to change. Referring to Bihar, he claimed that elections there were conducted without any violence. “Even in Bihar, after the results were declared, there were no reports of houses of defeated Opposition candidates being demolished or deaths due to political violence.

 

One should compare that with the situation in West Bengal after the 2021 Assembly elections,” he said. Bhattacharya also claimed that despite violence during the 2023 panchayat elections, party candidates managed to win seats in around 11,000 panchayats. “This clearly indicates the possible outcome of the upcoming Assembly elections,” he added. Elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases, with polling on April 23 and 29. The votes will be counted on May 4. 

 

 

CPI national general secretary D Raja on Sunday asserted that the Left is confident of revival in West Bengal in the upcoming Assembly elections, and it would emerge as a force to be reckoned with that would shape the political discourse of the State. Raja’s statement came hours before the announcement of poll dates for four States and one Union territory by the Election Commission. “Everyone knows that West Bengal will be a very tough fight. But the Left is very confident. The Left will see a revival and will emerge as a force to be reckoned with that would shape the political discourse of the State,” Raja told reporters at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport. The CPI leader arrived in Ranchi to participate in the party’s centenary celebrations here. He said situations are varied in the States going to the polls. “In Kerala, we are part of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). There are no issues on that front. The LDF stands a good chance of returning to power for a third term. In Tamil Nadu, discussions are currently underway with the DMK coalition regarding seat-sharing arrangements. Everything will be clear in a day or two,” Raja added. The Election Commission announced dates for Assembly polls in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry on Sunday evening.

 

“Our prime focus is to stop the BJP from coming to power in these States,” Raja added. The CPI leader also accused the BJP Government at the Centre for the supply constraint of LPG cylinders. Later, addressing the party’s centenary celebration in Ranchi, Raja stated that the party has been engaged in a continuous struggle throughout its 100-year history. “We do not exist merely for the sake of elections, rather, we stand for mass struggles aimed at addressing the people’s pressing issues. Even today in Jharkhand, the battle for ‘Jal, Jangal, aur Zameen’ (water, forests, and land) remains unfinished, and the Communist Party will bring this struggle to its completion,” he said. Former Minister and farmer leader Shivkumar Mukherjee said that the farmers of the country are currently passing through a period of crisis. “Chaos prevails across the world in the name of war. Innocent people are being killed, and a battle for capital is underway,” he said. 

 

UNWILLING to grant too much importance to the dual-phase polls announced for West Bengal by the Election Commission, the Trinamool Congress on Sunday alleged that the poll body fixed the number of phases based on “requirements of its political masters”. The party questioned the commission’s “duality” on conducting eight-phase elections in 2021 during a period of high Covid infections while settling for two-phase polls this time around. “The number of phases is solely a reflection of what the BJP wants and the Election Commission has only adhered to the requirement of its political masters,” TMC spokesperson, Arup Chakraborty said. The Election Commission on Sunday announced that Assembly elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29. “Else, how can one justify conducting eight-phase polls in the State in 2021 when people were dying of Covid infections and deciding to hold the polls in two phases now when there is no such bug.

 

The number of polls doesn’t matter, people will demolish the BJP irrespective of that,” Chakraborty added. The party posted a cryptic text on its X handle, suggesting two phases are enough to corner the BJP in the State. “How many phases will it take for the people of Bengal to decisively reject Bangla-Birodhi @BJP4India once and for all? Answer: Jotoi Koro Hamla, #AbarJitbeBangla #BoycottBJP,” TMC wrote. Party leader Kunal Ghosh maintained that people of Bengal continued to stand firmly behind the TMC. “If the turnout at the Yuba Sathi camps is any indicator of where the support of the State’s youths lie, then it won’t matter how many phases the State will vote in. We already have the required backing of the people,” he said.