‘Pushpa’ had no option but to run, he knew he’d lose: Suvendu

Falta/Kolkata: Two years after Falta gave Trinamool a lead of nearly 1.7 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha election, CM Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday urged voters to send BJP candidate Debangshu Panda to assembly by more than 1 lakh votes and "reduce TMC to zero" in its Diamond Harbour stronghold, as campaigning ended ahead of the May 21 repoll. This came even as TMC candidate Jahangir Khan opted out of the election on Tuesday.Targeting Khan, Adhikari said the strongman had no option but to flee. "Where is ‘Pushpa' now? He knew he wouldn't get a polling agent... he had no option but to run," the CM said. He went on to claim the "drama" was staged because TMC foresaw certain defeat. "Do not just make Debangshu Panda victorious, give him a margin of more than 1 lakh votes," Adhikari added.Adhikari led Tuesday's roadshow from Hashimnagar after offering prayers at a Shiva temple in Baneswarpur. Hashimnagar had earlier seen protests with locals demanding fresh polling. "‘Pushpa' has not allowed people to cast their votes since 2011. Democracy should be restored in Falta. Reduce them (Trinamool) to zero in the booths," the CM told the crowd.Falta falls under the Diamond Harbour LS constituency — stronghold of its MP and Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.While promising a special package for Falta in the next budget, Adhikari said his govt would hold all wrongdoers accountable. "Sabka saath, sabka vikas aur sabka hisaab hoga (There will be development of all and we will make everyone accountable)," he said while urging peaceful polling. "We don't believe in violence," he said.He also promised rehabilitation for Diamond Harbour BJP workers who had faced political violence and allegedly false cases. "Those who were attacked, falsely implicated, or deprived of their livelihood will receive support. No one will have to live in fear," he said and promised jobs for family members of victims of post-poll violence.During the 25-km roadshow, Adhikari had lunch at the home of a local BJP worker killed in an earlier post-election clash.