Kolkata: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday spoke exclusively to ABP News and reiterated his attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her governance in the state. Shah, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal, also accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief of reducing politics in the state to extortion, corruption and nepotism, resulting in alienation of the masses from the current dispensation. ALSO READ | Amit Shah Roars In Mamata's Turf As TMC Heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari Joins BJP


Shah landed in West Bengal on Saturday for a two-day visit to take stock of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s arrangements in the state, ahead of upcoming Assembly elections scheduled to take place in 2021.

While speaking at length about BJP's blueprint for Bengal, a buoyant Shah asserted the BJP will form the next government in the state winning more than 200 seats in the 294-member assembly as people of the state have faith in PM Narendra Modi and his leadership.

Shah further said that Mamata didi is worried about is of her nephew's as she wants to make him the next CM of Bengal. "But people of Bengal are fed up of Mamata Banerjee's autocratic governance and will throw TMC out of power in the upcoming polls," he said.

The BJP leader also accused the West Bengal CM of directing aid provided by Centre during Coronavirus pandemic and Cyclone Amphan to TMC goons.

"Funds and food grains given by Modi government amidst cyclone Amphan and Covid-19 pandemic didn’t reach the people of Bengal because of the corruption of TMC goons," he said.

ALSO READ | Amit Shah's Lunch At Bengal Farmer's House Even As Protests Over Agri Laws Continue At Delhi Borders

In the biggest exodus from the Trinamool Congress in a single day, party heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari and 34 other leaders including five MLAs and an MP switched over to the BJP in the presence of Shah earlier in the day.

Shah taunted TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by saying she will be left alone by the time assembly elections, due in April-May next year, arrives. Senior leaders of the TMC are also apprehensive that more leaders may leave the party.

In a massive jolt to Mamata, Suvendu Adhikari, the mascot of the Nandigram movement, joined the BJP with nine MLAs and a TMC MP, in a huge morale booster for the saffron party.

Adhikari, by far the foremost mass leader in the state after Banerjee, had resigned from the cabinet, the assembly, and the TMC, setting off speculations about his joining the BJP, which has emerged as a strong contender to power in the politically volatile state ahead of the assembly elections that are likely in April-May 2021.

The once TMC loyalist, whose family holds sway over around 35-40 seats in the Jangalmahal region and adjoining districts, has significant potential to severely dent Banerjee's dream for a third straight term in office.