Mamata Banerjee Holds Her Ground In Bengal As Opposition Brings Out Big Guns

Kolkata: Opposition parties are bringing their big guns to the fore against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee even as she campaigns elsewhere in the state. Her unfazed supporters are out on street to campaign for Trinamool chief in her constituency Bhawanipur.

Given the victory margin in last assembly polls, Ms Banerjee perhaps has no reason to worry. She had won by over 50,000 votes. She is currently busy campaigning in Lalgarh and Jangalmahal, about 150 and 160 km respectively from Bhawanipur.

Deepa Das Munshi, former parliamentarian and wife of veteran Congressman Priyaranjan Das Munshi is the Congress-CPM alliance candidate. The BJP has pitched Chandra Bose, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's grandnephew against Ms Banerjee.

"Definitely she is a heavyweight candidate but the people are ultimate judge... The Left and Congress and even some people from Trinamool have come together as there is no democracy here," Mrs Munshi told NDTV.

"This is a fight for development...against corruption... to bring about a government in West Bengal that works. In 2011, people voted for change but they have realized that a proper change never came about," BJP's Mr Bose said.
 Opposition also targeted Ms Banerjee over the sting operation in which two prominent leaders of West Bengal's ruling party were purportedly caught on tape -- one of them accepting money, the other seeking a "benami" stake in a project.

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"People have been caught on camera and she says she does not know anything...She knows," Mrs Das Munshi said.

"It seems the TMC has beaten the Congress Party as far as corruption is concerned. Sarada to Narada to Rose Valley and many other scams which are still not exposed. The TMC has lost the right to govern," Mr Bose said.

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However, Bhawanipur voters are watching the campaigns unfold. Swapan Hazra, a local resident told NDTV: "This sting will not have any impact. People know everyone takes money."

But Ashish Das, another resident said, "This will definitely have an impact on the elections even in Mamata's stronghold. Educated minds will react to this."