Didi to camp in Nandigram for five days till April 1- I am curious to see the antics of these Mir Jafars (Adhikari and associates),” Mamata

Her arrival was needed as the BJP had gained an unfair edge of sorts with a Calcutta HC order reopening the 2007 land protest cases against 63 TMC workers

Mamata Banerjee raises her hands to ask for support at a rally in Pingla, West Midnapore, on Saturday: Telegraph picture

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Anshuman Phadikar   |   TT |  Nandigram(Bengal)   |  28.03.21: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she would be camping from Sunday in Nandigram, from where she is contesting this year’s election against Suvendu Adhikari, to see how the BJP can flex its muscle there before Thursday’s vote.

Speaking at a rally in West Midnapore’s Pingla on Saturday, Mamata anticipated “antics” by “Mir Jafars” in the epic poll battle that awaits her in Nandigram.

“Starting tomorrow (Sunday) I will be staying in Nandigram... I am curious to see the antics of these Mir Jafars (Adhikari and associates),” she said.

Party sources in Nandigram said Mamata’s early arrival was needed as the BJP had gained an unfair edge of sorts with a Calcutta High Court order reopening the 2007 land protest cases against 63 Trinamul workers, forcing them to leave the area. This week, Trinamul election agent Sheikh Sufian got relief from the Supreme Court that granted a stay on the high court order.

A local Trinamul leader said the high court order led to a “dip in morale and strength at a time the BJP is trying to lure away our people”. “We are glad Didi will be here,” he said.

Party leaders Dola Sen, Purnendu Basu and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy had been managing Trinamul’s affairs on behalf of Mamata.

“Those leaders who have come from outside can stay in Nandigram till March 29 and will have to leave the area in accordance with the Election Commission’s order. The Supreme Court giving respite to Sufian is a big relief and we hope to get similar relief for us too,” said another Trinamul leader from Nandigram Abu Taher, also implicated in the case.

Taher and 61 others have moved the Supreme Court on Saturday seeking relief similar to Sufian’s in the 2007 land agitation cases and hope a stay will help them join the campaign in the crucial last few days leading to April 1.

At Pingla, Mamata referred to Suvendu Adhikari in rhetorical first-person and said: “Why are you making such a hue and cry about Nandigram if it is indeed your making? I have done everything here, and yet you write your names on all the walls.”

“Everyone has been seeing since morning what is going on in Egra, Bhagabanpur, Khejuri, Patashpur and of course Contai South... People are not being allowed to vote,” she added. “You (Sisir and Suvendu) have done as you pleased in Haldia and Digha (as administrators)...Youths there have seen everything,” she added.

BJP district vice-president Pralay Pal dismissed her allegations. “Trinamul is unable to accept that it will lose,” he said.