Mamata Banerjee alleges BJP rigged counting in 177 seats, vows continued fight for TMC workers
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the BJP “rigged” counting in 177 out of 294 assembly seats to secure victory in the recently concluded state elections. She made the claim while addressing a day-long dharna organised by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in central Kolkata to protest alleged post-poll violence and action against party workers.
Banerjee said she would not abandon TMC workers during what she described as “difficult times”, referring to arrests and alleged harassment of party leaders and supporters following the electoral defeat. She also asserted that opposition parties would soon come together to formulate a nationwide programme against the BJP, hinting at an upcoming INDIA bloc strategy meeting in Delhi.
The TMC supremo reached the protest site at Esplanade’s Y-channel after permission to hold the demonstration at Rani Rashmoni Road was denied by Kolkata Police. She alleged discriminatory treatment in granting permissions for political programmes and warned that the party would move court if similar restrictions were applied unfairly to opposition parties.
Addressing supporters through a hand-held megaphone, Banerjee accused the administration of targeting TMC workers and claimed that police were being misused for political purposes. The dharna witnessed intermittent slogans and chaotic scenes as large numbers of party supporters gathered at the venue.
Banerjee also referred to an alleged attack on TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee at Sonarpur, claiming it was a planned assault involving BJP workers. She alleged that private hospitals were pressured not to admit the injured leader, calling the incident a serious attempt to harm him.
She further criticised the BJP leadership, alleging that the state was being pushed into “darkness” under its governance. The Chief Minister also dismissed questions over signatures of TMC MLAs endorsing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition, saying procedural approvals had been properly followed within the party.
