Kolkata, May 16 -- In a sharp escalation of the political battle ahead of the Falta re-poll, West Bengal Chief Minister and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Friday signalled that Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee is now firmly on the radar of the new administration, claiming property-related documents linked to the senior TMC leader are being closely examined.

Addressing a public meeting in Falta, Adhikari, without naming Banerjee directly at first, referred to him as "Bhaipobabu" and said property records had been brought from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

"Honourable Bhaipobabu, yesterday I got the property list from Kolkata Corporation. Your Lips and Bounds has 24 properties in Kolkata. There is a palace-like office in Amtala. All accounts will be settled soon," the Chief Minister declared, drawing loud cheers from BJP supporters. Leaps and Bounds has repeatedly figured in the school recruitment corruption case. Central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate, have earlier examined financial transactions linked to the company.

Suvendu then shifted focus to allegations of political violence and intimidation during elections, again targeting Banerjee by name. He claimed police officials in Diamond Harbour had been instructed to preserve call records and WhatsApp chats. "I have told Diamond Harbour police that call records and WhatsApp chats must be submitted. Those who created unrest here at the instructions of Bhaipo's PA- every one of them will be identified," he said.

Turning to the Falta repoll, Adhikari appealed to voters to hand the BJP a decisive mandate, urging them to ensure victory by a margin of one lakh votes. He claimed that for the last ten years, people of Falta had not been allowed to vote freely and said the May 21 repoll was an opportunity to answer through the ballot.

He also launched a direct attack on Trinamool candidate Jahangir Khan, mocking his earlier "Pushpa" remark from the stage. "Pushpa. whatever the name is- where is he now?" Adhikari asked before warning that nobody involved in political violence or intimidation would be spared.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.