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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday campaigned for the July 8 panchayat elections for the first time, saying that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) would stamp out corruption at the grassroots after the polls.
“So far, we had not given much importance to panchayats. Now you see that people’s opinions have been sought. Opinions were sought two months ago. Don’t give money to anyone. We will not allow theft. If someone wants money, take his picture and send it to me. We will control panchayats from now on. Don’t let anyone steal it. We want people’s panchayats,” the CM said at a campaign event in Cooch Behar in north Bengal, emphasising that her party had emphasised fielding candidates with a clean record.
“From life to death, our ‘Maa-Mati-Manush’ government is there for you all. Even before panchayat elections were announced, we conducted the ‘Gram Bangla r Motamot (Rural Bengal’s opinion)’ exercise, where people’s views were taken into account before finalising candidates. Abhishek Banerjee’s team visited the entire state and took the view of the people regarding their preferred candidates. In over 99% of the places, candidates were decided based on this. We will ensure that no panchayat is corrupt. People should ensure that not one paisa is paid as a bribe because the state government has a host of social welfare schemes providing aid to the people of Bengal,” Banerjee said.
The TMC chairperson’s comments came five days after writer and party MLA Manoranjan Byapari resigned from a couple of party posts over his differences with the party leadership on panchayat election candidates. Days earlier, a section of the TMC leadership in Hooghly district accused the MLA of handing out panchayat election tickets in exchange for money. Byapari has denied the allegations and accused TMC Balagarh block president Nabin Gangopadhyay of doing the same.
Magnificent day in Cooch Behar!
Hon’ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial‘s grand public meeting in Cooch Behar was attended by thousands of people.
She reassured them of our staunch commitment to their welfare. No matter the odds and obstacles, under her guidance, we will keep… pic.twitter.com/PUDxhQpEuq
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) June 26, 2023
The episode led the Opposition to attack the TMC over corruption. The ruling party’s rivals have tried to corner it over allegations of graft ever since it returned to power in 2021, with several TMC leaders arrested in the school jobs probe and the cattle smuggling case. Among those in the custody of central agencies are heavyweights such as former education minister Partha Chatterjee and its Birbhum district chief Anubrata Mondal.
BSF trying to scare voters: CM
Meanwhile, Banerjee accused the Border Security Force (BSF) of trying to scare voters. “I have information that some BSF officials are visiting border areas, threatening voters and asking them not to vote. I ask people not to be scared and to fearlessly participate in the elections,” she said, adding, “If the BSF scares you, inform the police. The police will lodge FIRs and the law will take its course.”
Referring to last year’s incident in which the BSF shot people it claimed were smugglers, the CM said, “It seems like the BSF has gained some moral authority to shoot unarmed men. And these people and their bosses want to run our country. I don’t say everyone’s bad but I will ask the administration to keep an eye on the BSF’s activities. They’ve already increased their border limit from 15 km to 50 km from the International Border. I have news that during election time, these BSF officials will go to border areas and scare the voters and force them not to vote. However, I will ask my people to not be afraid of their tactics and fearlessly participate in the elections.”
The CM accused the Union government of denying state funds for rural road development and MGNREGS, the national rural employment guarantee scheme. “The Centre has withheld MGNREGS money. He is not giving money despite repeated requests. The Centre did not pay Rs 7,000 crore for 100 days of work. The Trinamool will collect that money after winning the panchayat polls,” Banerjee said without naming Modi, who returned to India on Sunday night after concluding visits to the US and Egypt.
The TMC is trying to unite against the BJP at the Centre by participating in an alliance with the Congress and the Left but is against both at the state level. Banerjee said that her party would defeat the “BJP-CPM-Congress alliance” in the panchayat polls. “The CPI(M), the Congress, and the BJP have formed an alliance here. Defeat them. We are trying to form a ‘mahajot (grand alliance)’ against the BJP at the Centre. But the CPI(M) and the Congress are trying to work with the BJP in Bengal. I will break this unholy nexus.”
Responding to the CM’s comments, CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said, “Mamata Banerjee is saying that the TMC will only remain in West Bengal. Basically, Modi ji told her if the TMC remains, the BJP will have no problem. Her party’s leaders are BJP in the morning and TMC at night. People of West Bengal are saying we will defeat both the TMC and the BJP.”
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP said, “The Chief Minister said she did not see panchayats in the last 10 years. Then, who saw these years? Ghosts? The Central government did not stop people’s money. They stopped theft. The BJP is trying to establish democracy in West Bengal.”
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