Relentless with her attack on the Centre and the Election Commission,Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday advocated reforms in the poll panel itself.
Making her first speech in the State Assembly in her third term as the Chief Minister, Mamata said the way the agencies including the Election Commission were being used by the Centre a time had come when EC reforms should be considered.
Attacking the poll panel for its "biased approach" towards a specific party Chief Minister said, “I can challenge that they (BJP) could not have won even 30 seats had the Election Commission not helped them directly, In this election, rigging took place in some places under the watch of the poll panel,” adding there was a strong need to bring about a reform in the Commission itself.
She said the “defeat of BJP has saved not only Bengal but India … many states are now feeling relieved that they have been restrained … the TMC has saved India.”
Attacking the Centre for sending a central team and shooting off strong letters “within 24 hours of my government taking the charge,” Banerjee said “failing to digest the defeat they are spreading rumors of violence by posting fake videos,” warning “those posting videos would be strictly dealt with.
In an apparent bid to use the massive electoral victory in Bengal as a launch pad for 2024 general elections Banerjee continued her tirade against the Centre wondering why it failed to tackle the pandemic.
She said “I had written to the Centre repeatedly about setting aside Rs 30,000 crore which is nothing for them … I told them to go for free vaccination during this national crisis … but they would not do that to save the lives of common man … while on the other hand they can spend Rs 50,000 crores for purchasing luxury air craft for Prime Minister’s residence and construction of new parliament etc.”
“I wrote four letters but none was replied,” she alleged saying how “Bengal is being deprived of vaccines and oxygen… they are taking away oxygen produced here … they are not sending vaccines,” she alleged.
The BJP is boycotting the Assembly session alleging rampant violence. Meanwhile in continuing violence a TMC man was killed at Dubrajpur in Birbhum when a skirmish took place between the BJP and Trinamool supporters, police said. The violence took place hours after the central team visited the spot.