Amit Shah Bengal Visit LIVE Updates
Later, he will hold a roadshow in Bolpur from Hanuman Mandir on Stadium Road to Bolpur Circle. He is expected to conclude the visit with a press conference at Mohor Kutir in Birbhum and fly back to Delhi on Sunday. Shah inducted TMC heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari to the saffron party along with 12 other faces and launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warning her of a tsunami of defection.
"Mamata Banerjee Will Be Left All Alone": Amit Shah after welcoming rebels
After Union Minister Amit Shah welcomed high-profile Trinamool Congress rebel Suvendu Adhikari and several others to the BJP on Saturday at a mega rally in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur, the HM took a dig at Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee asking her the reason for such political defections.
"Why are so many people leaving Trinamool Congress? Because of the misrule, corruption, and nepotism of Mamata Banerjee. Didi, this is just the beginning. By the time elections come, you will be left all alone," he said.
Besides Adhikari, nine other MLAs from various parties and Trinamool MP Sunil Mondal joined the BJP in Shah's presence. The former BJP chief reiterated that the party would form the next government in the state with more than 200 seats. West Bengal has a 294-member assembly.
Both Shah and Adhikari referred to growing discontent among the people and the party about the rise of Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee. Adhikari even gave the slogan, "Bhaipo Hatao (Remove The Nephew)".
Amit Shah also slammed CM Mamata on JP Nadda's convoy attack
Referring to the attack on BJP president JP Nadda’s convoy earlier this month, Shah said, “The more violence you perpetrate, the stronger the BJP will emerge… The TMC turned ‘Ma, Mati, Manush’ government into a party of extortion and syndicate. Didi is accusing us that we are poaching their leaders. I would like to question her. What was her previous party? She was with the Congress and later she formed TMC.”
Shah also accused Banerjee of blocking the central government’s welfare schemes in the state. “Mamata Banerjee is blocking all central government schemes meant for the poor. She has blocked funds for farmers. She has blocked Ayushman Bharat. Nearly 80 central government schemes were blocked by Mamata Banerjee,” he said, adding that the people of Bengal will be able to benefit from the schemes “when the BJP comes to power next year”