With members of the Adhikari family wielding considerable influence in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run up to the assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday called herself a “big donkey” for not being able to recognize their “true face”.
“I say I am a ‘big donkey’ (ami ekta boro gadha) for having failed to recognise them. I don’t know (about it) but people say their ‘empire’ is worth Rs 5,000 crore and they will use money to buy votes. But don't vote for them,” PTI quoted Banerjee as saying during an election rally in Kanthi Dakshin.
Expressing anger against former protégé Suvendu Adhikari, fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against her from the Nandigram Assembly constituency, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo further said she will get a probe done on the Adhikari family’s Rs 5,000 crore “empire” once voted to power again.
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Comparing the Adhikari family with “Mir Jafar” (traitor), she said the people of the region will not tolerate it and give befitting replies with ballots while alleging the family ruled the district as “zamindars” by taking full control of the area.
Banerjee also highlighted that all welfare related schemes were undertaken by her government and not by the Adhikari family.
Describing the BJP as a party of “rogues and goons” she urged the people to keep the saffron party out of West Bengal to maintain peace and boost development.
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The Chief Minister’s outburst came as Suvendu Adhikari’s father and TMC MP Sisir Adhikari joined the BJP on Sunday during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s rally at Egra in Purba Medinipur.
Voting for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases beginning March 27 and ending on April 29. The votes will be declared on May 2.