Kolkata, Sept. 15 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday predicted a resounding victory for BJP candidate Hasirani Rath, mother of his slain personal assistant Chandranath Rath, in the Nandigram bypoll, claiming she would win by a record margin.
The BJP had earlier in the day named Hasirani Rath as its candidate for the October 6 contest in Nandigram, while Sakharav Sarkar was fielded from Rejinagar. The two seats will go to the polls on October 6.
Adhikari joined party workers in a roadshow to the SDO office as Hasirani Rath filed her nomination papers, turning the nomination into a show of strength for the BJP ahead of the crucial bypoll.
Assuring the gathering that the BJP will win, Adhikari said: "Such a big margin in Nandigram that no one has ever imagined."
The Nandigram by-election was necessitated after Adhikari vacated the seat and retained the Bhawanipore assembly constituency. Adhikari was addressing a Sankalp Sabha in Nandigram ahead of Hasirani's filing of nomination.
"Chandranath was brutally murdered. I feel that his biggest crime was that he had assisted the then leader of the Opposition," Adhikari said. He also claimed that a Rs 2 crore 'supari' had been placed for carrying out the murder of Rath.
"Chandranath's biggest crime was that he helped the leader of the Opposition. That is why he was removed from this world," Adhikari said. Referring to Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and his associates, Adhikari further claimed that Rs 2 crore had been paid as a contract to the shooters, alleging that the "Bhaipo gang" was behind the killing.
"According to the information I have, the 'Bhaipo gang' is behind the incident. The contract killers were paid Rs 2 crore. I have heard several call recordings of people from Diamond Harbour. But since the case is sub judice, I will not say much more," Adhikari added.
The Chief Minister also assured that arrested people would receive the strictest punishment. "The CBI is investigating. I believe they will be hanged," he said.
Adhikari appealed to minority voters to support the government in the October 6 Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
Appealing to minority voters, Adhikari said he was aware that many of them did not vote for him or the BJP but urged them to vote in favour of the BJP in the upcoming election.
"If you want to stay with the government, work hand in hand with it and avail yourself of its benefits, then October 6 will be your test in Rejinagar and Nandigram," said Adhikari.
According to unconfirmed media reports, the EC has decided to deploy 71 companies of central forces for the October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar to ensure peaceful polling.
Of these, 37 companies will be deployed in Nandigram and 34 in Rejinagar. The forces will be drawn from the 100 companies already stationed in Bengal for election-related duties.
Nandigram has 282 polling booths and Rejinagar 315. Central forces will conduct area domination and route marches in and around polling stations, particularly in sensitive areas, ahead of polling.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.