Supreme Court reprimands Mamata for giving extra ammunition to BJP ahead of polls

New Delhi: Supreme CourtWest Bengal CM’s rebuke Mamata Banerjee For her intervention in the Ministry of Education’s raid on I-PAC, I-PAC defended her government and Trinamool Congresshanded to bjp It is a useful weapon as the party intensifies its last-minute efforts to end her 15-year tenure on the eve of the first phase of the state polls.The BJP seized on the Supreme Court’s pointed observation, claiming that she symbolized “jungle rule” and anarchy and had no right to continue as chief minister. Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said on Wednesday that people will overthrow the lawless government in the state on May 4, the day of counting of votes.BJP officials, especially in West Bengal, launched a multi-pronged campaign in the run-up to the first phase of polls, amplifying the SC’s criticism of her.Residents in parts of Kolkata woke up to “anonymous” posters sharing QR codes (pay2tmc) to avail different benefits, a pointed jibe at the alleged money-cutting associated with the TMC. Many believe this is part of the BJP’s outreach and ground game in its rival’s stronghold of South Bengal, where the second phase of polls will be held on April 29.Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a marathon meeting in the state capital that lasted till midnight (Wednesday) with key party officials to collect feedback and issue instructions on booth management and mobilizing maximum turnout of party supporters, especially in Phase II areas where the BJP had lagged behind the TMC in the previous polls. Shah, the BJP’s chief poll strategist, will be camping in the state till April 27, the last day of the BJP’s all-out campaign.The view within the BJP is that it has succeeded in building a strong narrative against Mamata, one of the strongest opposition governors, and driving its outreach through its Hindutva agenda, welfare promises for women and youth and operations against infiltrators.What makes this election different from the 2021 election, BJP officials believe, is that their cultural narrative has taken deeper root and their grassroots influence is broader. In 2021, their party campaigned with an air of anticipation of victory but was humiliated by Mamata after the Trinamool Congress won 215 seats in the 288-member Assembly.This, coupled with the heavy presence of SIR and CRPF, has largely offset certain advantages that the ruling party in the state has long enjoyed through electoral irregularities, they claimed.