Home Minister Amit Shah is managing elections, not ECI: Mamata Banerjee

After the high-voltage second phase polls in Nandigram, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was actually managing the ongoing elections in the state, instead of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Speaking at a public gathering in Dinhata-Sanhati maidan, Banerjee said: "Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has killed a lot of our workers. Our workers were killed yesterday in several areas. I am only waiting for the elections to be over. I will spare no one, I know the fight. I say this with great regret and with humble regards to the Election Commission, it is not managing the elections, the elections are being managed by Amit Shah."

Banerjee also made a lot of promises to the people if her party won the ongoing elections in the state.

"I know I will win, but if other Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidates do not win with me, how will the numbers increase, and if the numbers don't increase and I do not get 200 seats, then how will I form the government? If I am not able to form the government, there will be no Kanyashree, Rupashree, free ration, free bicycles and free land for farmers," she said.

The Chief Minister also alleged that Central forces in West Bengal were colluding with BJP to create chaos in different areas. "We respect CRPF and BSF, but please stop the terrorising villages with the help of BJP's workers," she remarked.

Speaking on defecting members of her party, Banerjee said: "BJP does not have its own candidates, they have borrowed from the CPI-M or traitors from TMC. They were fed by TMC and now they have gone to BJP to save their money. They are traitors and are roaming around with the CRPF."

"Look at the terror they are inflicting on Bengal. I am alone, and over one lakh politicians have come to fight me. They have rented several hotels, planes and cars. They have even brought politicians from Assam. After the Assam elections are over on April 6, they will bring all of them here. Do not let them enter!" she told the people.

Nandigram witnessed a high-voltage "Khela" (game of power) on Thursday in the second phase of West Bengal Assembly polls.

The constituency had witnessed a direct contest between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her former ministerial colleague Suvendu Adhikari, who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in December last year. Mamata Banerjee contested from Nandigram and not from her home turf Bhabanipur seat making this election more interesting.

West Bengal recorded a final voter turnout of over 80 per cent in the second phase of the state Assembly polls, while Nandigram recorded above 87 per cent turnout, according to the ECI.