India Assembly election 2021, Mamata: We fought and won against money, muscle and mafia

Kolkata: In her first interaction with the media after her party ensured a third consecutive term in power, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she and her party Trinamool Congress (TMC) won an almost improbable battle in which just about every institution worked against her. Yet, people power helped her triumph against all odds.

As mediapersons jostled for space in the narrow lane just outside her Harish Chatterjee Street residence in Kalighat, southern Kolkata, on Sunday evening, Mamata, wielding a cordless microphone and dressed in a ubiquitous blue-bordered white saree, said: “This is a massive victory for not just me and my party but all those who worked with us as a team. We fought against money power, muscle power and a mafia and still managed this huge win. I salute the people of Bengal. I salute the people of India.”

Earlier, as this correspondent’s app cab was stopped by the police just about 500 metres from Mamata’s residence, the hush in the entire neighbourhood was unmistakeable. It felt as if the victory celebrations had suddenly been muted by some magic charm! By that time, news had trickled down from various sources that Mamata, the TMC supremo, had lost from Nandigram by a wafer-thin margin to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and her former political aide and confidante — Suvendu Adhikari. Initially, news agency ANI had reported that Mamata had won by 1,200 votes, but later, the confirmed count issued by the Election Commission of India said Mamata had lost to Suvendu by a little more than 1,900 votes.

As the narrow lane leading to Mamata’s residence was chocked with party supporters and onlookers, Abhijit Raha, a local resident, was kind enough to offer this Gulf News correspondent a pillion ride on his two-wheeler, right up to the Bengal CM’s residence-cum-office. All around, the hushed-tone discussions among the neighbours were about Didi suffering an incredible loss in Nandigram — with disbelief and shock writ large on those faces.

After the mandatory whisking by the security personnel, as this correspondent was allowed near the make-shift podium from where Mamata was addressing the media, questions came flying in from all directions. Mamata said the Nandigram result doesn’t matter because her party won a massive mandate all through the state. “I accept the verdict of the people of Nandigram. It doesn’t matter because we will win more than 200 seats. So one seat doesn’t matter. But right through the day, as counting progressed, there were several disruptions and on four occasions, the server was down. I know lot of games are being played and I know who all are involved. But do not worry, everything will be accounted for and we will demand a recount of votes in Nandigram and move court if required.”

Alluding to the prevailing COVID situation in the state and in the country in general, she ruled out any immediate victory celebrations and demanded that the federal government must provide free vaccination for all. Mamata said: “We demand free COVID vaccines for all the people in this state from the Central Government. If our demand is not met then I will start an ‘ahimsa’ [nonviolent] movement at the Gandhi statue in Kolkata.”

She further said: “I urge all our supporters and party workers not to bring out any victory rallies now. We are in the midst of a major crisis owing to COVID. Let this situation subside, we will then have a massive victory celebration at Brigade Parade Ground.”

Taking potshots at the Election Commission of India, Mamata said: “We faced a horrible situation this time. We faced the horror of the Election Commission. We were constantly told ‘You are under watch. You are under watch. You are under watch. It was horrible, but we won in spite of all that.”