Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday slammed the ruling governments in West Bengal in the past and at present, stating they are responsible for destroying the state adding that whenever former Indian skipper and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly stepped out of the crease, it was sure that he would hit a six, similarily, the BJP has crossed the crease and will surely hit a six in upcoming polls and form the government in West Bengal.
“Whenever Sourav Ganguly crossed the crease, it was sure that he would hit a six. Likewise, with your support in Lok Sabha, we have crossed the crease and surely we will hit a six in Assembly polls and form BJP government here,” said the Union Minister while addressing a public meeting here. These comments come at a time when speculation is rife over Ganguly joining BJP ahead of the polls.
The Defence Minister said the BJP would form the government in West Bengal with a clear majority. “Post-independence, the kind of development that should have been done in West Bengal, has not been done. Ruling governments destroyed the state. Be it CPM or TMC, poverty and unemployment are rampant in the state,” Singh said during a public rally in West Midnapore. “I want to assure the people that the day we form the government, we will prevent attacks against everyone, be it BJP, TMC or CPM. There won’t be any discrimination. Strict action will be taken against those propagating violence,” the BJP leader said.
“The numbers in 2019 Lok Sabha polls is an indication of the change that is going to happen in Bengal with the upcoming state Legislative Assembly election,” Singh said.
Asked if going to elections without a Chief Minister candidate face will cause a loss to the BJP, he said, “No. Ours is a democratic party. The elected MLAs will choose their leader.”
Earlier in the day, Singh had said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her desperation to win the upcoming Assembly elections in the state is blaming the BJP for her leg injury.
“No one levelled allegations except Mamata didi. The reports of probe agencies and observers state that the accident occurred due to security lapses,” he said.
“But it’s a result of her desperation that she is accusing BJP for her injury. I hope she recovers soon,” Singh added.
Elections to 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.