Kolkata, April 14: In a press conference held at TMC Bhavan, Derek O’Brien, a member of the Rajya Sabha from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), targeted the central government and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) while discussing proposed delimitation. He raised several issues and made significant claims regarding the West Bengal assembly elections.
O’Brien accused the ED of becoming a ‘desperate agency’ and described its actions as part of an ’emotional sabotage.’ He asserted that only 0.1 percent of the 5,900 cases handled by the ED result in convictions, raising questions about its effectiveness.
Regarding delimitation, he noted that there was a proposal to increase parliamentary seats by up to 50 percent. For instance, he mentioned that Tamil Nadu’s 39 seats could rise to approximately 59, while Uttar Pradesh’s 80 seats might increase to 120 or more. He labeled this as a growing disparity in representation between northern and southern India.
O’Brien referred to the ED as a ‘political tool’ and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Vinay Chandel. He emphasized that ultimately, it is the people of Bengal who will make the final decision.
He also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, stating, “Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi will be here for a few days. We will call you by your first name, as you referred to our Chief Minister by hers.”
Discussing election statistics, he mentioned that in the 2021 elections, the BJP led by about 5 percent on 47 seats. He warned that if the BJP remains below 47 seats this time, it would be disappointing, as their target should be between 47 and 77 seats.
He referenced claims made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, stating that Banerjee aimed for 226 seats while Abhishek targeted over 213. He argued that the BJP focuses solely on numbers, while the TMC works with ground realities.
O’Brien made serious allegations against the central government regarding the Women’s Reservation and delimitation bills. He pointed out that no draft has been presented for the constitutional amendment bill scheduled for discussion on April 16. He quipped, “This is the Constitution of India, not a Gujarat gymkhana.”
He accused the government of forcing the opposition to respond without proper information. He clarified that this bill is not related to women’s reservation, as the Women’s Reservation Bill was already passed unanimously in 2023; it is solely about delimitation.
O’Brien stated that the TMC would not publicly disclose its strategy on this issue but would participate in opposition meetings to determine the way forward.
He recalled 1998, noting that the statements made by Mamata Banerjee in Parliament at that time are now being echoed by the BJP.
Regarding election outcomes, he claimed that the TMC would maintain a strong position in Kolkata with a 11-0 lead, and in South 24 Parganas with 31-0, as well as in Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas. He insisted that this is not a prediction but an analysis based on electoral data.
O’Brien also questioned the Election Commission, stating that if a delegation from the country’s second-largest opposition party is told to ‘get lost’ when meeting with the election commissioner, what does that say about the common people’s situation? He affirmed that Mamata Banerjee and the TMC always stand with the people.
–
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
Leave a Comment