The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) registered a stunning win in a high-stakes election, defeating the BJP to form the government in West Bengal for the third time. According to the latest Election Commission results, the TMC is on track to win 210 seats in a 294-member Assembly, while the BJP is expected to win 77 seats. Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP ousted his former party leader Mamata Banerjee in the tightly contested Nandigram seat. Mamata, on the other hand, has petitioned the Election Commission to have the votes in the constituency recounted.
Earlier, speaking to the press in Kolkata, she said, “This is a victory for the people of Bengal. I am proud to say that Bengal saved the country. The Election Commission behaved badly with us — they behaved like BJP’s spokesperson. BJP played dirty politics and lost the election.”
She added, “Covid is my first priority. We will work on this immediately. We will not do a big oath-taking ceremony. We will weather this storm. We will distribute free vaccines to everyone. Also, request the Centre to distribute free vaccines to all. If this does not happen, I will sit on a dharna in front of the Gandhi Murti in Kolkata. We appeal to everyone not to do a victory rally now. We will do a big victory rally at the Brigade Parade Ground later after the situation is normal.”
TMC writes to the Chief Electoral Officer, requesting re-counting of votes in Nandigram
The Trinamool Congress has requested a recount in the Nandigram constituency, claiming a host of irregularities in the vote-counting process, despite the Returning Officer’s refusal.
In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, the Trinamool Congress requests “immediate re-counting of votes in Nandigram AC 210 and postal ballots.”
PM Modi cogratulates TMC Supremo
PM Narendra Modi congratulated Mamata Banerjee on the TMC’s victory in the Bengal Assembly elections, saying that the BJP will continue to serve the people of Bengal.
“Congratulations to Mamata Didi for @AITCofficial’s win in West Bengal. The Centre will continue to extend all possible support to the West Bengal Government to fulfill people’s aspirations and also to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic,” he tweeted.
