Former cricketer and TMC leader Kirti Azad is all set to contest against BJP heavyweight Dilip Ghosh from Bardhaman Durgapur seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and is confident that party chief Mamata Banerjee will make the BJP sweat. Though the Opposition has tagged him an outsider, Azad says he will win the seat by more than one lakh votes.
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How’s the electoral pitch?
Mamata didi has made the pitch perfect and will hit a six in these elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not presented his report card. Rs 15 lakh have not come into people’s accounts as promised. The issue of price rise remains. People are happy with Banerjee because of her welfare schemes.
Opposition says you are an outsider.
I played for the country and brought the World Cup home, which is the property of the country. Whenever I played in Eden Gardens, I got the same love that I got everywhere else. The entire nation loves me. PM Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat earlier so how did he come to Varanasi? Hence, there is no question of being an outsider.
What about Dilip Ghosh?
I have never seen someone like him. Bengal is known for “bhadra manush” (gentlemen), culture, and history. But then you have Ghosh.
Ghosh is a heavyweight. Don’t you think it will be a tough fight?
I don’t think so. Didi is Mahishasuramardini [another name for Goddess Durga as she slayed the demon Mahishasur]. Last time, BJP said ‘200 Paar’ but they did not cross 100. A party which is not even contesting on 400 seats is saying ‘Ab Ki Baar 400 Paar’. This is laughable. They don’t show what they have done in the last 10 years. They come and try to defame Bengal. Didi has nothing to prove; the reality is on the ground for all to see.
What about the corruption charges against TMC?
TMC has not stopped anybody from investigation. The big question is if anything has been proved. Modi-ji spoke about the corruption by Suvendu Adhikari, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Ajit Pawar, and Narayan Rane, but now all of them have got washed in BJP’s washing machine. How is that possible? They have given more than 100 seats to outsiders. Why did they give a ticket to Ashok Chavan who took flats of martyrs. Nobody asks them [BJP] about these things. PM Modi should show his 10-year report card. They have only tried to divide people on the lines of religion. After losing the first two phases, they have started doing Hindu-Muslim again.
SS Ahluwalia won by a narrow margin last time. How do you see the fight?
This time, Left is fighting on its own. In a few years, people have realised that BJP is good for nothing but Didi does what she says.
How do you see Sandeshkhali?
It was BJP which did not allow the arrest [of the main accused]. When court gave its nod, Shahjahan Sheikh was arrested within 48 hours. It’s laughable that Home Minister Amit Shah talks about infiltrators. Who looks after borders? It’s the Border Security Force (BSF).
What are the main issues in Bardhaman Durgapur?
The Union government is not giving money to Bengal and instead accusing the state government of corruption. PM Modi talked about Awas Yojana by 2022 but now he has extended the deadline to 2047.
You are confident of victory?
I will win by more than one lakh votes.
But Dilip Ghosh says you are nowhere to be seen.
I can’t help if he chooses to not see me. I start my day at 7am and hold meetings early to ensure my people are not out in the sun. Dilip Ghosh only talks ill about Bengal and its people.
So you will deliver in Bardhaman Durgapur for Didi?
Yes, here Didi is hero.
Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
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