New Delhi: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of pursuing vendetta politics, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged the ruling party at the Centre is targeting her nephew and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee.
Continuing her outburst, the TMC supremo said that her party leaders are being summoned by central agencies just after the announcement of dates for the by-polls.
“They cannot fight politically, that is why they stopped the Congress with the help of agencies. They are doing the same to me,” said Banerjee.
“They are calling for interrogation again, but in reality, the one whose name appeared in connection with Narada has not been called,” she added hinting at her protégé-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari.
Earlier on Monday, the Enforcement Directorate officials questioned Abhishek Banerjee for about nine hours in the national capital in a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal pilferage scam in West Bengal.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister while hinting at her defeat in the Nandigram Assembly constituency alleged that she has to again contest the by-poll due to a conspiracy hatched by the BJP.
“Only God knows the way polls were held.... The Centre lied, still couldn't beat me. There was a conspiracy behind attack on me in Nandigram. 1000 goons from outside came to mislead about Bengal,” she said speaking at the TMC workers’ convention in Chetla under Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, ANI reported.
The TMC supremo further said that she would file her nomination for Bhabanipur Assembly by-election on September 10.
“Sovandeb Chattopadhyay will contest from Khardaha Assembly constituency. He had resigned for me. He will continue as a minister,” she said.
TMC’s Sovandeb Chattopadhyay stepped down as the MLA of Bhabanipur, giving his party supremo an opportunity to become a member of the state assembly by contesting the by-poll.
Banerjee, who lost the election in Nandigram to Adhikari, has to win this by-poll to retain her post. She has to become a member of the state legislature by November 5.