Top political leaders are giving a final push to sway voters in West Bengal as the high-voltage campaign for the second and final phase of the Assembly elections in the state concludes tomorrow. Voting in the state for the second phase is scheduled to take place on Wednesday.
Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed public meetings at Arambagh in Hooghly district and Bangaon in North 24 Parganas district today. Mr Modi claimed ruling TMC’s corruption and governance failures have pushed people to the edge. He said, the resolve to remove them is now stronger than ever.
Stating that, farmers’ welfare is a key priority of the party, Mr Modi said the BJP-led Central government has doubled the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of jute, increased procurement threefold, and made jute packaging mandatory for wheat and rice while banning single-use plastic to boost demand and support jute mills in West Bengal. Alleging that the ruling TMC’s syndicate system is hindering mill operations, the Prime Minister asked people to oust the state government for the benefit of farmers. He alleged that women have been the worst affected under the TMC government’s jungle rule in the state. Citing incidents in Sandeshkhali, the Prime Minister accused goons of perpetrating injustice against women with the state government’s support, and urged the people of Bengal not to forget these events.
Meanwhile, Senior BJP leader Amit Shah is also on the campaign trail in West Bengal, and addressed a rally at Tehatta in Nadia district. Mr Shah promised a monthly assistance of Rs 3,000 for women starting from the month of May, Rs 3,000 for unemployed youth, and Rs 21,000 for every pregnant woman for child care, if the BJP forms government in the state. He appealed to voters to form a BJP government in the state and said that all syndicates linked to the TMC would be dismantled. Raising a local issue, Mr Shah said that work on a bridge over the Jalangi River in Tehatta has not yet been completed. He assured that the project would be finished within two years after the formation of a BJP government.
Senior Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee is mostly staying in her own constituency, Bhabanipur, with multiple events lined up. Party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a rally at Purbasthali Uttar in Purba Bardhaman district.
The first phase of polling in the state was held on 23rd of this month.
Counting of votes for the Assembly elections held in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, along with the two-phase polling in West Bengal, will be held on 4th of May.
