Mamata Banerjee was destined to become India’s Prime Minister and control the country’s destiny post 2019, claimed her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.
The Trinamool Congress MP from Diamond Harbour who had last week swanked about his comrades’ ability to gouge out the Opposition’s eyes and chop off their hands if they dared raise them at the Chief Minister claimed on Saturday that his aunt would be in a position not only to control India’s destiny but become the Prime Minister of the country in 2019.
“This is for everyone to remember that Mamata Banerjee’s popularity is increasing by the day and with the people’s blessings she will become the Prime Minister of India in 2019” the Trinamool’s own ‘Yuvaraj’ said adding she would be in a position to determine the country’s politics after 2016 and beyond 2019.
“Mamata Banerjee cannot be intimidated by the anti-propaganda of the BJP, the Congress and the left. She will continue to fight her way ahead and shatter the dreams of these parties,” the MP said.
Curiously the nephew’s speech tended to come in tandem with a tweet by his aunt who wrote that her party was ready to fight the 2016 State elections when it will roar back to power thanks to social welfare schemes it had launched in the past four years of its rule.
The Chief Minister wrote that her Government’s “record development makes us confident that we will win again in 2016,” triggering speculations of an early poll. The Assembly elections are due in May 2016. However the recent decision of the Government to bring forward the next year’s Board examinations by a month had already lent strength to that speculation.
“In a democracy people have the final say. Our record on development makes us confident that we will win again in 2016,” Banerjee said.
Trinamool leaders claim that social projects like Kanyasree — aiding poor girls with `25,000 after they cross 18 years of age — and schemes through which the Chief Minister distributed bicycles and bracelets among girl students were instant hits. This apart, 100-days work and total sanitation project in Nadia district would give the Government a good publicity during the polls.
“We hope our pro-people works will be taken cognizance of and the people will vote us to power,” said State Minister Firhad Hakim. However BJP, left and Congress said the Chief Minister’s tweet was triggered more by lack of confidence than self-belief.