Bengal's 4 out of 4 & other bypolls show people's mandate against BJP: Mamata Banerjee
Times of India | 14 July 2024
Mamata Banerjee lauds Trinamool’s bypoll wins against NDA, noting INDIA bloc’s 51% vote share. Criticizes BJP's new criminal laws affecting doctors, journalists, police, and lawyers, urging review. Highlights INDIA bloc’s 13 bypoll victories against NDA's two, retaining Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh seats. KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday described Trinamool's bypoll sweep in Bengal as a "mandate against NDA".
Referring to INDIA bloc's wins in 13 assembly bypolls across the country compared to NDA's two, Banerjee said: "The trend is very clear. The mandate of the people is not in favour of NDA but in favour of INDIA. All parties in NDA collectively got 46% votes while INDIA bloc parties got 51% votes."
Lashing out at BJP's "agency raj", Banerjee urged Centre to review the new criminal laws by using "a provision that allows the new govt to review decisions taken by the previous govt in the last six months of its tenure".
Saying that "everyone's freedom was at stake" and that "anyone could be a victim", the CM said: "To suspend 147 ministers from Parliament and pass this bill without any discussion is not acceptable. The new criminal laws have scared even doctors. Even journalists know how dangerous this is for them. Police and lawyers are also unaware about the new changes in the laws. We have no idea about it as well."
Indicating that TMC will step up the heat, Banerjee said: "When our assembly sessions begin, we will also have discussions regarding two important issues, NEET and the new criminal laws."
The CM, who spoke to reporters in Kolkata after arriving from Mumbai, said: "BJP has lost the bypoll elections across the country except for two seats in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where they are in office. They have lost everywhere and the trend across the country is anti-BJP."
Pointing to TMC's victories reversing the 2021 results in Raiganj, Bagda and Ranaghat South, Banerjee said: "Three of the four seats being contested this time were won by BJP, both during Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha. Not only have we retained our seat, but also won the other three. It is four out of four. We express our gratitude to the people. This is a victory of the people."
"Despite many conspiracies, people are coming out to cast their votes. It is the credit of the people that they are standing up to BJP and the different agencies. As a political party, social service and working for people is our responsibility. If someone does not want to do this, they are welcome to fend for themselves. I firmly believe that the more we work for the betterment of people and stand by them when they need us, the more the people will love us," she said.
Banerjee added: "We would like to dedicate our Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha victories to the July 21 martyrs. We want to dedicate it to those who died fighting for their rights on that day."
Referring to Trinamool's wins, the CM said: "The bypolls in Ranaghat, Bagda, Maniktala and Raiganj have political importance. Only the Maniktala seat belonged to us. However, due to a court case that was going on for two years, elections were not conducted here. Supti Pandey's victory is a very good thing. A month ago, Krishna Kalyani was all set to win Raiganj in the LS elections. However, BJP paid money to Congress to split votes and make him lose. I had assured him that he needs to contest again. Today, people have supported him whole-heartedly."