The BJP has gone all guns blazing in the West Bengal Assembly elections as the party makes a determined push to script history by coming to power for the first time in the state. As West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee continues to shoot herself in the foot with badly planned moves and speeches, PM Modi has ripped into Mamata’s brand of secularism during his rally at Cooch Behar.
Mamata Banerjee who recently amply showcased her desperation by appealing the Muslim community to vote en masse for her and the Trinamool Congress, saw PM Modi rain fire on her for her move.
Stating that Mamata’s statement showcases her frustration and anger, PM Modi during the rally in Cooch Behar thundered, “Recently you have said ‘all Muslims unite and don’t let your votes be divided’. When you are saying this it means that your Muslim vote bank, which you considered your strength, is no longer with you.”
The Prime Minister then proceeded to claim that Muslims have drifted away from TMC as he stated that Mamata has already lost the elections. “Muslims have drifted away from you. Since you have to say this publicly it is clear that you have lost elections”
He added, “The mood of the people can tell which way the wind is blowing. One can guess the outcome of the elections from your anger, frustration, behaviour and speeches. Even a child can tell that Didi and the TMC will lose. Didi, you have lost the elections. You have left the field… Didi’s defeat is imminent.”
Taking an indirect potshot at the Election Commission, the Prime Minister wondered what would have happened had he made an appeal to the Hindu community to vote together for the BJP. “The Election Commission would have sent us notices and we would have been censured,” said PM Modi.
The Prime Minister’s statements can be read as his attempt to reach out to the Muslim community who would also have to face the brunt of the alleged rampant corruption in the TMC government and the purported cut money.
Bad governance affects all irrespective of religion the people will only get disillusioned with a government which does not pass on benefits to the people. The Prime Minister through his speech has attempted to tap into the anti-incumbency against Mamata and her government amongst the Muslim community. While for most of the Muslim community, the BJP continues to be untouchable, there is no denying the fact that there is growing disillusionment against the Mamata Banerjee government across the length and breadth of West Bengal and Mamata’s increasingly desperate antics signal an imminent victory for the BJP.