TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee Targets PM Modi Over ‘Mann Ki Baat’ Radio Broadcast

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday took a jibe on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio broadcast saying people in West Bengal are “deprived of 100-day work money”.

"On one hand PM is busy doing 100 Mann Ki Baat episodes while people in Bengal are deprived of 100-day work money," the TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was quoted by NDTV as having said.

"People are failing to get Roti and Bhaat (chapati and rice) while PM is conducting the Mann ki Baat programme," Abhishek Banerjee was quoted as having said.

TMC has launched a movement to collect signatures to put pressure on the Centre to release unpaid funds, mentioned the report.

It also stated that TMC is looking to channel rural discontent over non-payment of dues against the BJP in the upcoming panchayat elections.

BJP has been reiterating that funds have been withheld due to corruption, it said.

"I walked all the way from Karandighi Krishak Mandi, covering almost 700 metres. People queued up in large numbers to show support. This is a testament to the fact that Hon'ble CM @MamataOfficial has delivered on her promises." the TMC said in a tweet.

Abhishek Banerjee, who is widely seen as prominent leader in the TMC after Mamata Banerjee, has been on a mass outreach programme across the state.

“Every night, the party will hold district-level sessions, allowing people to share their views and voice their concerns on panchayat election candidates through referendums,” it mentioned.

"From 184 seats in 2011 assembly polls, we got 211 seats in 2016. It went up to 213 seats in the 2021 elections. And keep in mind, TMC will not get less than 240 seats in the 2026 polls. The more the BJP's conspiracy against us grows using its agencies, the more our seats will go up, with people resisting their gameplan," the report quoted Abhishek as having said.

Abhishek Banerjee's comments are being seen as counter to Home Minister Amit Shah who claimed that if the BJP won 35 seats in the parliamentary elections of 2024, the BJP would not need the 2026 assembly elections to dislodge the TMC government in West Bengal, it mentioned.

Earlier, Shah also outlined the BJP's target in Bengal for the 2024 elections. 
“He said the BJP would win 35 of the state's 42 parliamentary seats, which he claimed would be enough to topple the Mamata Banerjee government in the state," it said.

"Give us 35 seats in 2024 and the Mamata Banerjee government will be out. There is corruption in Bengal. And only the BJP can stop it," Shah had said.