Karnataka story is the beginning of the end for BJP: Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: The Karnataka verdict was the “beginning of the end” for BJP and a mandate against its arrogance and majoritarian brand of politics, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday, reacting to the Congress sweep. She also said the results were an indication of what’s about to happen in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, doubting whether the saffron party would manage to get even 100 votes in all.“People want change,” Banerjee said, repeating that there should be one-to-one contests against the BJP in next year’s polls.
“Discussions are on. Wherever which party — it may be national or regional — is strong, let there be a one-to-one-contest. What is the harm?” she said. Banerjee said that people had started to reject BJP’s “brute authoritarian and majoritarian politics”. “Why will people vote for the BJP?... What is the requirement of a governor house (in states)? I am not talking about my governor. Everywhere, state money is being misused, bills are pending and the governor is sending reports of opposition parties to the Centre,” she said, adding, “Everyone is facing agencies. I have no problems with those who are really criminals..... Even I think the courts, the judges’ system, the judiciary which can save us, but that also... judiciary must care about that... sometimes the lower court and high court interfere like anything.
The road from Bengal led to Bengaluru today, says Didi
CM Mamata Banerjee, reacting to the Karnataka results, said the “arrogant” BJP had crossed its peak. “They had got close to the 300-mark. But now I do not think they will cross even 100 (in 2024),” she said, ad- ding, “I salute the win- ners, even Kumaraswa- my ji, has also done well. Elections are due in Chhattisgarh and Mad- hya Pradesh. I think BJP will lose both states.” Banerjee said, barring “Yogi-raj in Uttar Pradesh”, which she called “atrocityraj”, BJP had just Gujarat and Haryana. “Where will they get the seats (in 2024)?” South India — Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka — were not with BJP, the CM said. Likewise, in east India, Bihar, Bengal and Jharkhand were not with them. “This time, maybe Odisha, too, will think it over,” she said, adding,
“In the north, too, Delhi and Punjab are not with them.” Trinamool’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said Bengal had rejected the politics of religion and divisiveness in 2021. “Karnataka has done it in 2023, India will do it in 2024. A campaign based on religion, love jihad, what people will wear, what people will eat... these can never be political issues. Political issues should be about roads, health, jobs,” he said. “The antiBJP votes must not be split between opposition parties. They must fend off the BJP on their respective turfs.” The CM said that the BJP “cannot control everybody”. “It is not a government of the people, but of one ruler, one party, one ideology, agency, one motto, and vendetta. I think people will not accept this.
The road from Bengal led to Bengaluru today. The people’s mandate is clear: if you do not have a prelude to a song, mere decking up and taking the stage does not make a good tune. The song has to have melody, a rhythm.” When early leads indica- ted Congress were on course to win, the CM Tweeted: “My salutations to the people of Karnataka for their decisive mandate in favour of change!! Brute authoritarian and ma- joritarian politics is vanquis- hed!! When people want plura- lity and democratic forces to win, no central design to do- minate can repress their spon- taneity: that is moral of the story, lesson for tomorrow.”