INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appeared to suggest that the long-drawn Lok Sabha election process was intended to facilitate yet
another "strike" as part of the BJP's "gameplan to disturb" her state.Ms Banerjee, also the state's ruling Trinamool Congress chief, said
the list of candidates of her party will be released on Tuesday."I have been informed by some senior journalists that there will be another
What strike I will not say
In the name of so called so called so called in the month of April
That is why it (voting process) will continue till May 19."Please don't misquote me
I have great respect for a constitutional body like the Election Commission
But it is a part of the BJP's gameplan to disturb West Bengal," she told a press conference.With the TMC boss'' comments being seen as an
oblique reference to a likely military action by India, the BJP reacted quickly, dubbing her charge as "baseless"."She has the habit of
levelling baseless accusations
She is given to kite-flying
If she has proof, she should make it public," state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh told PTI when reached for comments.Ms Banerjee had accused the
Centre of creating "war-like hysteria" in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack that left 40 CRPF personnel dead and the retaliatory
air strike by the Indian Air Force on Jaish-e-Mohammad''s terror training camp in Pakistan''s Balakot.Banerjee had also said the lives of
jawans were much more valuable than electoral politics, but the nation had a right to know what actually happened in Balakot following the
IAF's strike.West Bengal will have polling in all seven phases, beginning April 11 and concluding on May 19.The Trinamool chief has claimed
put poll personnel and voters in "distress" as they would have to face the summer heat.Several leaders of her party have also said the
polling during the holy month of Ramzan will inconvenience Muslim voters who observe fast."I know the people of my state
I have great respect for the people of Bengal
But the BJP is showing disrespect to them
They (the BJP) have conspired against me and Bengal, but it will boomerang on them," Ms Banerjee said.Replying to a question, Ms Banerjee
said seven-phase polls have been announced only in Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, which are expected to play a key role in deciding
who will form the next government at Centre.Soon after the Election Commission announced the polling schedule on Sunday, the TMC had alleged
the central government had "misled" the poll body about the law and order situation in the state.
