Kolkata, 18 April (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s defeat in Parliament over the delimitation bill marked the beginning of the downfall of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

Addressing an election rally in Panchla area of Howrah district, Banerjee alleged that the BJP was attempting to redraw Lok Sabha constituencies for political gain, but the Opposition had united to defeat the move.

She said that despite the ongoing Assembly elections in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress MPs had travelled to Parliament to vote against the bill. According to her, the party played a significant role in forging Opposition unity.

Banerjee further alleged that under the guise of the women’s reservation bill, the Centre was actually trying to push forward its delimitation agenda. She claimed the BJP intended to increase the present strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 seats to nearly 850 in order to alter political equations in its favour.

The Chief Minister said she had been asked to send 20 MPs to Delhi, but instead sent 21 members as part of a strategy to defeat the BJP in Parliament.

She asserted that after suffering defeat in Parliament, the BJP would now face rejection on the ground as well. Banerjee claimed that Bengal had always shown the country the way forward and that the fight to remove the BJP from power would once again begin from the state.

Reiterating her party’s support for women’s rights and reservation, Banerjee said the Trinamool Congress would not back any policy aimed at dividing the country.

She also accused the BJP of spreading misinformation and urged party workers and supporters to ensure a decisive Trinamool Congress victory in West Bengal to send a strong political message.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh