“Mamata’s goons will be hung upside down,” says Union Home Minister Amit Shah; Mamata says Wait for the “Jhatka”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that her “goons” have captured farming land from the people of Raigunj. Addressing a poll rally in Bengal’s Karandighi, Shah asserted that “goons of Didi will be straightened out" once the BJP is voted back to power.

“Mamata Didi’s goons have snatched away farming land from the farmers. This should no longer be tolerated. Vote for BJP and help us win. After the elections, we will ensure that Mamata Didi’s goons are hung upside down and straightened out,” asserted Shah, as he promised a slew reforms to the people of Bengal’s Raigunj constituency.

Amit Shah was in Bengal campaigning for BJP candidate Kartik Paul, who has been fielded from Raiganj Lok Sabha constituency, pitted against Trinamool Congress candidate Krishna Kalyani. In his speech, Shah highlighted the purported failures of the ruling Trinamool Congress regime of Bengal, citing instances of alleged corruption and negligence. He promised that strict and stringent action against the wrongdoers and underscored BJP’s determination to win 35 Lok Sabha seats, doubling their 2019 seat tally from Bengal.

“Mamata Banerjee had come to power by the virtue of their ‘Ma, Maati, Maanush’ (Mother, Land, People) slogan. But now, ‘Ma’ (mother) has been disrespected in Sandeshkhali, the ‘Maati’ (Land) has been given away to Bangladeshi infiltrators, and the ‘Manush’ (People) of Bengal are plagued by the reign of terror and corruption,” said the Union Home Minister, taking a jibe at Mamata Banerjee’s ruling Trinamool Congress government.

On the other hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had slammed the language used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah calling it disgraceful and unsuitable for the political discourse. She added that the threats of the Home Minister will soon be meted with a "jhatka." “Prime Minister says ‘chunaav ke baad, choon choon ke jail mein bharenge (will pick and put people in prison after elections) and the Home Minister says sabko latka denge (will hang them). We will give them jhatka,” said the Trinamool Congress Supremo.

Raigunj goes to polling in the second phase on April 26, along with Balurghat and Darjeeling in Bengal. In 2019, the BJP had swept all Lok Sabha seats of the northern part of Bengal. In the 2021 Assembly Elections that followed, Krishna Kalyani was elected as the BJP MLA from Raigunj. TMC formed the Bengal government with a thumping majority in 2021, and months after the results, Krishna Kalyani had defected to TrinamoolCongress. The same Raigunj is now contesting the Lok Sabha polls on a TMC ticket. Thus, the Raigunj seat is a prestige fight for both Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be conducted in 7 phases. The first phase was on April 19, the second phase will be conducted on April 26, and the subsequent phases will follow on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.