Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was addressing an election rally in Purulia district
With just months to go for Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the BJP on Tuesday, describing the opposition party as "poisonous snakes (who can) finish you with one bite". Ms Banerjee, who was addressing an election rally in Purulia district, also called the BJP "worse than Maoists", "fraudsters" and accused them of releasing "fake videos" to mislead voters.
"Don't believe them. If BJP comes to power they will finish Purulia. Maoists will come back here. And the BJP is worse than that. The BJP is worse than Maoists. They are poisonous snakes. One bite and you are finished," the Chief Minister warned voters.
"BJP creates and releases fake videos. Don't believe any of them. They are fraudsters. They have created WhatsApp groups with fake names," she said, adding that party leaders had "shamelessly misled you during the Lok Sabha elections for their own gain and (then ran) way to Delhi".
"Have you seen them after elections? Do they visit you? Do they work for you? Have they done any development? Have they built roads? Have they brought water connections? Have they given you jobs and rations? Have they even looked at you? Have they come to your aid during the Covid pandemic? Before elections they will be very sweet and after elections they won't care. This is what the BJP is all about. They only lie," she declared.
Ms Banerjee was in Purulia, where the BJP gained ground during last year's Lok Sabha election; the party won all seats in the region. Much of the Chief Minister's focus over the past two days has been on re-establishing connections with voters there.
She said the BJP was using the media to create a perception that they were growing in strength.
"One survey said... maximum they will win 50 seats. Yesterday one channel said they will win 94 seats. There was a report that said TMC will get 211 seats. BJP will 51 seats and other will get the rest. But on Amit Shah's instructions they changed the figures. I have heard Amit Shah scared them. And some other BJP leaders. They were told not to say this," she alleged.
She also accused the BJP of spreading fake news and of throwing money at voters.
"If they give you money, take it and eat good food but don't give them your vote. Its not their money, its public money," Ms Banerjee declared, adding, "They remember Bengal only during elections. They cannot even pronounce Bengal. They are beggars for votes."
The Trinamool and the BJP have been locked in increasingly vicious rhetoric ahead of elections in April-May. The BJP has never ruled Bengal and Home Minister Amit Shah, who has already made multiple visits (and is scheduled to make more) has made the party's immediate priorities clear.
The BJP will win 200 of 294 seats, Mr Shah said, while the Trinamool laughed off that claim.