West Bengal elections 2021 updates: BJP to form govt in Bengal with over 200 seats, says Amit Shah

Banerjee joined the five km road show from Mayo Road to Hazra More, as part of observation of Nandigram Diwas to commemorate the killing of 14 villagers in police firing during the anti-land acquisition protest in 2007. "We will continue to fight boldly! I'm still in a lot of pain, but I feel the pain of my people even more. In this fight to protect our revered land, we have suffered a lot and will suffer more but we will never bow down to cowardice! Banerjee tweeted minutes before arriving at the venue.

Special observers Ajay V Nayak and Vivek Dube have, in their joint report to the Election Commission on the recent incident in Nandigram that had left chief minister Mamata Banerjee injured, stated that there were no significant pointers to suggest any pre-meditated or planned attack on her convoy. However, based on a joint report of the East Midnapore’s district magistrate and superintendent of police (SP) and available video footage of the incident, they concluded that there was a lack of coordination between security arrangements by the police headquarters and local SP due to frequent changes to the chief minister’s tour programme, no approval was taken from returning officer for the place where the incident happened and there was a blatant disregard of security protocols.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said she is contesting from Nandigram to work along with members of martyr families against "anti-Bengal forces", remembering villagers killed in firing at Nandigram on March 14 in 2007. ''As a mark of respect and encouraged by my brothers and sisters of Nandigram, I am contesting Bengal Elections 2021 as an AITC candidate from this historic place. It is my great honour to be here and work along with members of Shaheed families against anti-Bengal forces," she added.

BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya on Saturday said that the attempt by Trinamool Congress to create controversy has backfired as the district administration as well as Election Commission has called the incident in Nandigram that resulted in an injury to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee an accident. "We are not worried. Those (TMC) who tried to use the wrong means to gain sympathy from people should be worried. They have been exposed," he added when asked if Banerjee's injury could swing voters in her favour.

BJP MP Locket Chatterjee paid a “courtesy visit” to Trinamool veteran and Suvendu Adhikari’s father Sisir Adhikari at his ‘Santikunj’ residence on Saturday, a week ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s public meeting at Kanthi on March 20, fueling speculation that the Trinamool MP from Kanthi might make it to the PM’s meeting in his constituency. A video clip going viral on social media whose authenticity has not been verified by TOI, shows the BJP MP while having lunch asking: “But why she (Mamata) has to contest from Nandigram?” Sisir replies: “She wants to finish off Suvendu.”

The incident in Nandigram which caused injury to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was an accident and not a planned attack, according to the report of two poll observers submitted to the EC on Saturday. The incident had taken place "suddenly" though a "conspiracy theory" was spoken about, the report prepared by special observer Ajay Nayak and special police observer Vivek Dubey to West Bengal for the state election stated, a source at the CEO office said.