NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday called the developments surrounding the Trinamool Congress’ internal factional dispute a “black day” in India’s democratic history, after her camp’s Nandigram bypoll candidate withdrew her nomination.Addressing a press conference, Mamata said her camp did not disrespect the Constitutional Chair but alleged that the developments were “unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic and a totally biased vendetta to satisfy the ego of a political party”.“We don’t disrespect the Constitutional Chair, but we feel today is a black day in our democratic history. What is happening in our country is very unfortunate, unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic and a totally biased vendetta to satisfy the ego of a political party,” she said.Mamata also alleged that there had been an earlier warning that her faction would not be allowed to retain its party name and symbol.“They had said beforehand, ‘naam bhi rakhne doonga, nishaan bhi nahi rakhne doonga’. Who are these people? They are in power today, they might not be in power tomorrow. They should understand their limitations,” she said.
Mamata backs Congress in Nandigram
The comments came after Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the Nandigram bypoll candidate of the Mamata Banerjee camp, withdrew her nomination on Friday, a day before the deadline for withdrawal.The development followed an interim Election Commission order freezing the use of the All India Trinamool Congress name and its traditional twin-flowers-on-grass symbol by both rival factions.The EC subsequently allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the symbol “Football Player”, to be treated as a recognised political party in West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura.The group led by Arup Roy was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the symbol “Envelope”.Dey had filed her nomination from Nandigram as the candidate of the Mamata Banerjee-led faction, accompanied by former state minister Akhil Giri.Earlier on Friday, Dey also met West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata.With Saturday being the last date for withdrawal of nominations, the meeting came amid the reshaping of the electoral contest.Mamata said her camp would now support the Congress in Nandigram as well as Assam.“”They do not know that I cannot leave All India Trinamool Congress. It will always be with me until I leave this world…Absolutely dirty game but we are also ready to fight it out. I want the BJP to go from India. We want solidarity in INDI Alliance…In Nandigram, we are going to give our support to Congress party. It is for the greater interest of the country. Rejinagar, I will decide later. In Assam, we are not contesting…”,” she said.
Mamata alleges ‘vote theft’
Speaking about what she described as “vote theft”, Mamata accused the BJP of undermining democratic institutions and said the issue was a matter of “great sadness”.“It is a matter of great sadness. They looted in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Bengal. This ‘Jhootha BJP Party’, a ‘Jumla Party’…Its job is to end democracy, Constitution and education system in the country. Even journalists are not spared; if someone speaks out against them, they are arrested.
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Before us, Uddhav Thackeray faced the same thing. I have no respect for any individual person who is busy only to satisfy the ego of BJP...” she said.The developments follow the Election Commission’s interim order that froze the use of the Trinamool Congress’ traditional name and symbol by both factions, resulting in separate names and symbols being assigned to the rival groups.