TMC's Bhaipo dares Union of India to come to Falta. BJP storms entire Bengal
Days after Trinamool Congress leader and Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee challenged the "Union of India" to come and contest from Falta in Diamond Harbour, the BJP seems to have stormed West Bengal. The BJP is leading in around 188 seats, with Falta to see fresh polling on May 21.
The dare from the Trinamool Congress came first, the BJP's surge followed. Days after the Election Commission ordered fresh polling at Diamond Harbour's Falta, its MP, TMC's Abhishek Banerjee, threw an open challenge to the "Union of India" to come and contest from Falta. But now on the counting day, trends point to a very different storm. It is the one powered by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sweeping across West Bengal.
Leading in 188 seats, the BJP is poised to storm to power in West Bengal for the first time. At around 1 pm on Monday, the TMC is leading on around 100 seats.
On Saturday, TMC general secretary and party supremo Mamata Banerjee's nephew (bhaipo) Abhishek Banerjee had reacted to the Election Commission's order for repolling in Falta. He took to X to launch a sharp attack on the BJP leadership, referring to them as a "Bangla Birodhi Gujarati gang".
The remark was aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
"Ten lifetimes won't be enough for your Bangla Birodhi Gujarati gang and their stooge, Gyanesh Kumar, to put even a dent in my DIAMOND HARBOUR MODEL... Bring everything you have got. I challenge the entire Union of India. Come to Falta. Send your strongest, send one of the godfathers from Delhi. If you have got the nerve, contest in Falta," Abhishek Banerjee posted on X on Saturday.
The provocation came after BJP leader Amit Malviya welcomed the repolling decision, claiming the "Diamond Harbour model crumbles".
What people pointed out was the challenge to the "Union of India", and not even the Centre or the Government of India.
Financial consultant Soumya Dwibedi said,"The use of 'Union of India' in his tweet is so troubling. Why is someone using this word". New Delhi-based journalist Kushan Mitra said, "That 'Union Of India' post is going to come back to haunt Abhishek and his minions".
The Election Commission had ordered fresh polling in Falta citing "severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process" during the April 29 phase of voting.
Allegations included voters being prevented from exercising their choice in certain booths by TMC members. Protests also broke out in parts of South 24 Parganas.
In Falta, TMC's Jahangir Khan is pitted against BJP's Debangshu Panda. Khan has a reputation as a muscleman of the Trinamool.
It was in Diamond Harbour's Falta that UP's 'Singham', IPS Ajay Pal Sharma, was deployed as an Election Commission police observer. He took strict action against alleged voter intimidation and rigging ahead of polling, leading to a high-profile clash with TMC candidate Jahangir Khan (who called himself Pushpa in response).
After complaints of irregularities, the EC ordered a full repolling on May 21 in all 285 booths of Falta. This triggered sharp criticism from TMC leaders who blamed and mocked the "Singham" officer and the poll body.
But even as the political battle over Falta intensified, the larger electoral picture appeared to be slipping away from the ruling party, the TMC.
Trends on Monday show the BJP crossing the halfway mark in the 294-member Assembly. It is leading with over 188 seats, which is well above the 148 needed for a majority. The TMC, leading at around 100 seats, is lagging far behind.
For a party which had stormed to power in 2021 with 215 seats under Mamata Banerjee, the reversal is stark. BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, framed the trends as a rejection of alleged corruption and misgovernance. TMC leaders, including Mamata, urged caution and said that counting was still underway.
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