Speaking to reporters on Thursday before flying to Mumbai, Banerjee said in Kolkata, “I have been invited by Mukesh-ji and Nita-ji to attend the wedding of Anant and Radhika. They requested me so many times. Therefore I am going to Mumbai to attend the wedding. Before that, I will meet Uddhav Thackeray. We will hold political talks as I am meeting him after a long time, especially after the Lok Sabha polls. I will also meet Sharad Pawar at his residence. Akhilesh Yadav will also be there tomorrow. So I might meet him as well depending on when he arrives.”
This is the first time the Mamata will meet INDIA bloc leaders after Lok Sabha polls results were declared. Following her meetings with the INDIA bloc leaders, she will attend the high-profile Ambani wedding and return to West Bengal on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Banerjee criticised BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya and a section of the media for highlighting, ahead of Wednesday’s Assembly bypolls, an old video of TMC men beating up a person inside a club. “There is one Malviya who is known for creating controversies which go against the culture of Bengal. An old video of an incident that took place in 2021 was circulated recently to damage the electoral prospects of my party. This was done for the last 72 hours and the issue was run continuously by some television news channels,” she said.
“Some television news channels continuously highlighted one incident but didn’t show how peaceful the election was held in the state. Whenever there is something against the TMC, these channels get excited. If someone is guilty, action will be taken. Channels need to cross-check before broadcasting news. They are forced to do so. Otherwise, the BJP will send the CBI, ED and the Income Tax Department after them. I am making an appeal now. If this continues, I will have to take legal action,” she said.
The chief minister was referring to a string of videos of atrocities allegedly committed by TMC men inside a club in the Kamarhati-Ariadaha area of North 24 Parganas district. “Those who had done that were arrested and are in jail. Even today in the Ranibandh area in Bankura district, attempts are being made to make a death go viral. I enquired about it and learnt that the incident was the fallout of a family dispute or personal enmity. There is nothing political regarding this. The police will take action as per law,” she added.
The Assembly bypolls were held in four constituencies in the state.