BJP, TMC lock horns over Hooghly venue
Preparation is in full swing at Dunlop factory ground in Sahaganj in Hooghly district as both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are scheduled to hold public meetings at the same venue next week.
Within 48 hours of the PM's rally at Hooghly on February 22, just to test its might and popularity, the ruling Trinamool Congress will hold a public meeting at the same venue on February 24.
Representatives of both the parties on Wednesday were seen taking stock of the preparations of their respective rallies next week.
Taking a jibe at the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BJP MP
Locket Chatterjee said that the counter-rally of the ruling Trinamool Congress shows that the TMC is losing ground in the state.
“Soon after our programme was announced the ruling TMC declared their counterrally. The helipads and the stage we are preparing for Modi; now the TMC wants to use the same,” claims the actor-turned-politician.
West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh mentions that normally the opposition follows the ruling party but in West Bengal, the picture is reversed. “Following the BJP’s footprint clearly shows that the ruling Trinamool Congress has nothing left and the ideas given by their strategist is failing," added the BJP MP of Midnapore. However, refusing to call it
a ‘counter rally’, TMC
Hooghly district president Dilip Yadav said that in keeping to the security of the Chief Minister and the turnout the venue was chosen as it is the largest ground in the Hooghly district.
Actor with Mumbai connect joins BJP
Popular Bengali actor Yash Dasgupta, who has done several Hindi serials, joined the BJP ahead of the Assembly polls in the presence of West Bengal BJP observer Kailash Vijaywargiya, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta, and BJP national vice-president Mukul Roy. Several other actors along with Dasgupta were seen chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ soon after joining the BJP. Talking to the media, the actor said the BJP gives chance to the youths to work for the people.