Interior Minister Amit Shah to visit West Bengal this week to campaign for the BJP
Calcutta:
Interior Minister Amit Shah is back in West Bengal this weekend, 40 days after he started the BJP campaign for 200 out of 294 seats for the legislative assembly elections. His itinerary has yet to be set, but the highlight, barring unforeseen circumstances, will be the induction of Trinamool Congress leader Suvendu Adhikari into the BJP.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, for the first time, publicly acknowledged and attacked would-be party rebels who are now exploring options. The stage for Adhikari’s induction is being set for December 19 in the city of Medinipur in the West Midnapore district, about 150 km from Kolkata, which is Shah’s first stop.
Originally, his meetings with party workers and farmers were to be held in an indoor stadium. Now the place is open ground where Mr. Adhikari will switch sides.
Adhikari, Nandigram MLA of the Trinamool Congress and once the hub of the organization, has done nothing to dispel the possibility.
At an apolitical public meeting held today in Haldia in the East Midnapore district, Mr. Adhikari said: “We have to take back in Bengal what the Constitution has said: for the people, by the people and by the people. Why will it be? for the party, for the party and for the party here? “
“I don’t believe in personal attacks. A lot of people are abusing me. Some people are attacking me from high positions. But in a few days, when people vote, they will know how it feels to be Laxman Seth, Anil Bose, Bolenoy Konar,” he said. Adhikari, referring to three leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) who won by record margins in the past and lost by record margins as well.
Ms. Banerjee, in a way, confirmed the parting of ways. In a demonstration in Jalpaiguri, he accused the rebels of profiting from the Trinamool Congress and the government and now seeking other options. She hadn’t recognized the rebels in the party with such outrage before.
“We will support the people and fight with them. That is our promise. Who is greater than who in the party should not be the problem. After profiting from the party for 10 years, after profiting from being part of the government, rub shoulders with this and that party … I will not tolerate those people, “Ms. Banerjee said.
Adhikari’s departure will hurt the Trinamool Congress, but to what extent depends on who speaks. Most, however, agree that Adhikari may not be the only exit from the Trinamool Congress. Asansol strongman and former mayor Jitendra Tiwari is openly disgruntled, as is Forestry Minister Rajib Banerjee.
Ms. Banerjee met with Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee and Election Strategist Prashant Kishor on Sunday. Mr. Tiwari did not come to Kolkata today for a meeting with Firhad Hakim, minister, and Mr. Kishor. He said that Ms. Banerjee called him to talk on December 18 and that he would talk to her and no one else.
BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya called and wished Mr. Adhikari on his 50th birthday today.
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