West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed those who claim there is no peace in the state on Friday (June 16), asking them how the situation was during previous governments. Mamata asked Congress why, despite having government in several states, they need TMC support in parliament. She agreed to unite against the BJP, saying, "We are ready to support them in opposing the BJP. However, after joining hands with the CPI(M), they should not come to us for support in Bengal," she was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI.
She further said: "Till yesterday, 2.31 lakh nominations for Panchayat elections had been filed, with the TMC receiving 82,000 of them. Other parties submitted between 1 and 1.5 lakh nominations...The majority of BJP members are thieves and thugs".
Her statement comes after three people were killed and several others were injured in two West Bengal districts on Thursday during violence over the filing of nominations for panchayat elections, according to the news agency PTI. Two people were killed in Bhangore, South 24 Parganas district, and another was killed by miscreants in Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur district, according to the report.
READ | Bengal Panchayat Polls: Three Shot Dead As Violence Continues On Last Day Of Filing Of Nominations
Earlier, a fight broke out between two groups in the South 24 Pargana during the filing of nominations for panchayat elections, according to police. The mob also attacked police officers, who received minor injuries and were being treated, they said. According to Dibakar Das, Canning Sub-Divisional Police Officer, 18 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, and an investigation is underway.
It is to be noted that voting for nearly 75,000 Panchayati Raj seats in the three-tiered system will take place on July 8.
READ | 'Perpetrators Will Be Silenced': Bengal Guv Assures Action Against Violence Ahead Of Panchayat Polls