West Bengal Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee. (Photo: PTI)
In her first exclusive interview after winning the West Bengal assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee, head of the Trinamool Congress, slammed the Indian electoral commission and said the electoral body had acted like the “spokesman for the BJP” during the elections.
Mamata Banerjee spoke to Rajdeep Sardesai, the consulting editor of India Today TV BJP’s seating arrangement would not even have exceeded 50 without the help of the electoral commission.
“The way the electoral commission behaved this time was terrible,” she said, adding that despite all of this, she was confident that her party would pass twice a century and achieve its goal of 221 seats.
When asked what gave her the confidence to win 221 seats in this highly competitive election, she said she was a “street fighter”.
From the beginning I said that we will be in the double century (win more than 200 seats) and that the BJP will not go over 70. And if the electoral commission didn’t help, it wouldn’t even exceed 50 seats.
– Mamata Banerjee
The two-time prime minister claimed that EVM machines had been “manipulated” in some places and that several postal ballots had been “canceled”.
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“But greet the people of Bengal. You not only saved Bengal, but also the country,” she said.
#Exclusive With #MamataBanerjee | #ResultsOnIndiaToday | #ITLivestream | @sardesairajdeep https://t.co/dWsZUPlz9A
– IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) May 2, 2021
At their “defeat” in Nandigram
While the TMC won the state elections, what spoiled their celebrations was that party leader Mamata Banerjee was unable to win against Nandigram, where she ran against her former aide and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.
About the nandigram result, Mamata Banerjee said: “It is not lost. We asked for votes to be recounted because votes were manipulated there. Even on election day I sat for three hours in front of the polling station because no one was allowed to vote.”
So, will she go to court about the nandigram result?
On this, Mamata Banerjee said at the moment, her party has called for a recount.
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“We want postal voting and VVPAT to be counted from scratch. BJP’s mafia gang operated and wreaked havoc in Nandigram. Let people know the truth,” she said.
When asked if she retrospectively regrets fighting from Nandigram instead of taking a safer place, Mamata Banerjee said she had no regrets and it was her choice.
“No regrets. I’m not worried. Every seat is my seat. I took a risk. I was victimized by the election commission and local administration in Nandigram set up by the commission,” she said.
We won because we are street fighters: Mamata
Mamata Banerjee thanked the people of Bengal for the third consecutive victory of the TMC and said the party won because “we are street fighters”.
“Bengal saved the country with this election result,” she claimed.
“The center should provide free vaccines to everyone.”
During the interview, Mamata Banerjee said how to deal with the Covid-19 situation is their first priority currently. She said her party had decided not to hold triumphant marches because of the health crisis.
“The center should provide free Covid-19 vaccines for everyone. If they have the money to make a rupee 3,000 law, they can be sure to provide free vaccines to people,” she said.
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She also warned against starting a movement if the center was not ready to vaccinate everyone for free.
Is Mamata looking for a national role?
Describing the TMC’s victory as the biggest the party’s had so far, Mamata Banerjee said it was women and young voters who came out in large numbers and put their trust in them.
“I am grateful to them. This result will challenge the central government in 20214 (when the Lok Sabha elections are due). This is the turning point,” she said.
Mamata Banerjee was categorically asked whether she is now looking for a greater national role for herself beyond West Bengal, opposition parties and whatever they will ask for, I will give my full cooperation. “
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