Determined to see the back of Narendra Modi Government, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to start “teaching lesson” to thePrime Minister from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab elections.
Banerjee will not only campaign herself against the BJP but has also prepared a select list of party leaders who would hold election rallies in these two States.
Apart from heavyweight Bengal Ministers like Arup Biswas and Firhad Hakim renowned Bangla cine stars: Dev and Shatabdi Roy are on the campaigners’ list, sources said. Dev and Roy are also Trinamool Congress MPs and are likely to be used in selected areas so as to dent the saffron vote base.
“Bengali film stars have a huge fan-following in certain areas of UP. These personalities can be used in those areas” said a Trinamool leader.
Incidentally Roy who had earlier been summoned by the CBI in a chit fund-related case was yet to appear before the investigating Agency.
A third politician Arjun Singh the Bhatpara MlA and a party strongman is also likely to campaign in certain areas of Uttar Pradesh sources said.
Banerjee who has no love lost for the Prime Minister-in the wake of demonetisation war and CBI probe in the chit fund scam that led to the arrest of her senior party MP Sudip Bandopadhyay-had earlier expressed her support for Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance.
“Our Chief Minister has told in no uncertain terms that she will teach Modi a lesson by ensuring his party’s defeat in UP and Punjab. Modi’s decline will start from these two States,” Sultan Ahmed TMC MP said.
Insiders also said that besides, denting Modi’s support base Banerjee was also trying to promote herself in the Hindi heartland, particularly among the minorities.
“A Prime Minister who cannot tolerate opposition and who suppresses the voice of dissent by putting opposition leaders to jail on false charges, is no better than a dictator. They must be taught a lesson for their arrogance,” said Hakim, who had once told a Pakistan journalist how his constituency in Kolkata was fondly called by a section of people: “mini-Pakistan.”
The Chief Minister who earlier called Modi an “arrogant dictator” holding him “responsible for the economic hardship of the common man due to his demonetization plan,” said her services could be utilized by any party which would ensure the defeat of the BJP.
Banerjee had already held a meeting in lucknow soon after the demonetization. Her tour itinerary had not yet been fixed but she was likely to campaign in at least a dozen places, sources said.