Without EC’s poll rigging, BJP would not have crossed 30 seats: Mamata Banerjee

She demanded “immediate” electoral reforms to protect the “democratic fabric” of the country.

Continuing her attack on the Election Commission, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday alleged if the poll panel had not rigged the Assembly election, the BJP would have been reduced to fewer than 30 seats. She demanded “immediate” electoral reforms to protect the “democratic fabric” of the country.

In her maiden speech to the new Assembly, Banerjee said, “I can challenge that had the Election Commission not helped them (BJP) directly, they would not have won even 30 seats. In this election, vote rigging took place in some places under the watch of the poll panel. There should be electoral reforms made immediately, else the democratic fabric of the country will be jeopardised.”

In a landslide victory, the TMC has won 213 seats of 292 seats that went to polls while its chief rival, BJP, could manage 77 seats.

The TMC chief once again warned BJP leaders to stop spreading fake news related to the post-poll violence in which several BJP workers were killed. The TMC said its workers were also killed. Banerjee claimed that “99 per cent of the videos are fake and irrelevant.”

“For the last six months, they have not done anything but pushed the country to the brink of destruction. They had only one target and that was to capture Bengal. Now, they (BJP) cannot accept the mandate of the common people. So they are trying to incite violence in the state and are posting fake videos,” she said.

Banerjee said that police had been asked to take stern action against those dividing people on communal lines.

She blamed the BJP for the second of coronavirus in the state and country. “To set up a double-engine government in Bengal, they pushed India to the threshold of Covid-19 destruction. In the last six months, the Central government did no work but came to Bengal everyday to capture it.”

The BJP had earlier boycotted the first day of the Assembly session in protest against against the post-poll clashes and the state government’s alleged inaction to control it. Referring to the boycott, the chief minister said, “People boycotted them (BJP)… Now, they are boycotting the Assembly.”

Banerjee re-iterated her demand of “universal vaccination” and said, “Vaccination should be the priority of the Central government. The government is spending Rs 50,000 crore for a new Parliament building. Instead of that, they should roll out a universal vaccination programme. To vaccinate 1.40 crore of people, the Centre needs only Rs 30,000 crore, which is not very big amount for them.”

Thanking the people of the state for her party’s resounding poll victory, she said, “My head is bowed in respect of the ‘Maa, Mati and Manush’ of this state. No government has ever come to power with such a huge mandate. On an average, a Trianmool MLA has won by over 31,000 votes. No other Assembly has this kind of record. This is a miracle…”

Biman elected as Speaker for the third time

TMC leader Biman Banerjee was on Saturday unanimously elected as the Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly for the third consecutive term. His name was cleared with voice vote. However, the BJP boycotted the Assembly accusing the state government of not taking any action against the “incidents of violence” following the elections. Only ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui was present from the Opposition camp. After taking oath, Banerjee said, “We all came here from different walks of life, which will add colour to the Assembly. I hope we will maintain the dignity of the Assembly.”

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