The Bharatiya Janata Party could hold the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in December this year, claimed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, adding that all choppers have been booked by the saffron party for campaigning. The Trinamool Congress chief also cautioned that a third term for the BJP would ensure that the nation faces an “autocratic” rule, reported news agency PTI.  "If BJP returns to power for the third consecutive term, the nation would face an autocratic rule. I am apprehensive that they (BJP) could hold the Lok Sabha elections in December 2023 itself,” she said. 


“The saffron party has already turned our country into a nation in the throes of animosity among communities. If they return to power, it will make our country a nation of hatred," she said while speaking at a TMC youth wing rally in Kolkata. 


She claimed that the saffron party has “already booked all choppers” to campaign in the Lok Sabha polls, so that no other political party can use those for canvassing, as per the report. 


Speaking on the incident of blasts that took place in illegal firecracker factory in the state, the Bengal CM blamed that some people were engaged in “unlawful activities” that caused the incident. She alleged that this was being done “with support from a few police personnel”. 


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Nine people were killed in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Sunday morning in the blast at the illegal firecracker factory. 


“The majority of policemen are doing their duty with utmost sincerity, but some are helping such people. They must remember that just like the anti-ragging cell, we also have an anti-corruption cell in Bengal.” The TMC supremo urged those involved in the firecracker industry to start manufacturing green firecrackers.


In her address, Banerjee alleged that Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose was violating the constitutional norms and that she does not support his “unconstitutional activities”. 


“Don't take 'panga' (challenge) with an elected government,” the chief minister said, referring to Bose.