Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee used the twin prongs of sentiment and an oft-repeated reminder about what the future may hold at a public rally in Bhangor on Tuesday to tell voters why they should remain loyal to her party.
Mamata on Tuesday repeated what three of her outgoing cabinet members - Amit Mitra, Arup Ray and Purnendu Bose - and other key leaders said after Monday's polls: " Ora curfew korche, Section 144 lagachhe, keno? (Why are they imposing curfew, or prohibitory orders)?" Dubbing it Delhi'r julum (Delhi's atrocities), she said: "They are announcing it over mikes, stopping and checking normal people.
Kar jonno atoh otachar, atoh sontrash? (For whom are they indulging in so much torture, so much terror)?"
Switching tone and tenor, Mamata said, "If Bengal loves me, if you love me, vote for us. God willing we will come back again. Not only in 2016, but in 2019, also in 2021. You alone can silence them. Kono dhomkani, chomkani shunben na (Don't be scared)," she said.
She then, yet again, reminded voters of the futility depending on the central forces: "Oraesheche, abar choleo jabe (They will go away)."
"In my political career, I haven't resorted to lies, falsehood, smear campaigns to seek vote. Er inchi the uttor chai (I want you to reply for every inch). I am your daughter, protest this wrongdoing," she said, bracketing CPM-Congress-BJP together and accusing them of terror.
It is now known what Banerjee meant by 'curfew' because it has not been imposed by EC anywhere in Bengal, and prohibitory orders under Section 144 in the vicinity of booths is an SOP during elections.