Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjeeโs decision to go front foot against Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikariโs allegations seems to have put the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the back foot.
Addressing a rally at Singur in Hooghly district, Adhikari had alleged that the Bengal CM had called Union Home minister Amit Shah after the Election Commission of India (ECI) revoked TMCโs national party status. He claimed that Bengalโs CM had requested HM Shah to repeal the decision.
Firing on all cylinders, Banerjee said, โRecently, I heard news being played on media channels wherein an opposition leader in Singur claimed that after TMCโs national status was taken away, I had called up the Union Home Minister four times. I am appalled by these remarks that are being run non-stop on media channels.โ
โI challenge the person who made this claim to prove it. And if he can, I will resign from the post of chief minister. If his claims are proven wrong, will the BJP leader resign and accept defeat?โ TMC supremo hits back.
On April 10, the Election Commission of India (ECI) derecognised TMC as a national party based on its actual poll performance. ECI stated that TMC will function as a state-recognised party in West Bengal and Tripura in continuation up to 2024. TMC will also be recognised as a state party in Meghalaya.
Despite the ECIโs decision to revoke its status as a national party, Banerjee said that her partyโs name will remain the All India Trinamool Congress.
Meanwhile, TMC RS MP Derek OโBrien wrote a letter to Adhikari, calling his allegations โfalse, incorrect and vexatious claimsโ.
Translating a part of Adhikariโs speech at Singur, OโBrien wrote, โIt has come to our notice that yesterday (April 18) at a public rally in Singur, you have said the following words: She called him four times and fell at his feet. She fell at his feet over a phone call. She asked if her national status could be kept until 2024 or not. Amit Shah said that no, such national status cannot be retained. You have not received votes and our Election Commission is not like your Sourav Das. Bound by laws, you have gone beyond the law, that is why you are no longer all India, you are restricted within the territories of West Bengal.โ
โUnder such circumstances, we call upon you to immediately withdraw such a false statement, failing which we shall be constrained to initiate appropriate legal proceedings against you and Amit Shah, who needlessly shall be drawn into a serious litigation for the such falsehood of yours,โ the letter read.
