Kolkata: Keeping an eye towards 2024 Lok Sabha polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday urged people not to vote for BJP in the coming polls and appealed to the minority community to vote for her judiciously, preventing division of votes. Banerjee, while speaking at a public rally in Malda’s English Bazar, indicated a new government will be formed at the Centre soon and BJP will not come to power.

“People of Malda and Murshidabad have helped me to win in assembly polls. In a bid to defeat the BJP, you should all vote for me and don’t allow the vote to get divided,” Banerjee said, as she was speaking in the minority dominated Malda.

She said that funds had come from a source to Sagardighi assembly polls, where Congress had won. In Sagardighi, Trinamool had lost the by-election a few months back and claimed that BJP-Congress and CPI-M joined hands. She also said minority people don’t vote by taking money.

Blaming BJP for conspiracy in the state, Banerjee raised concern about MNREGA dues and lack of funds in roads projects and other schemes. “The Centre has not sent a single penny to Bengal,” she said.

Meanwhile, slamming the alleged attack on the wrestlers, Trinamool Supremo Mamata Banerjee stood by the wrestlers following the alleged attack on them last night allegedly by police at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

She questioned, “Where are the central teams now?” adding, “They (Centre) have sent 150 central teams in West Bengal. Why have the central teams not been sent to Delhi?” Wrestlers protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar have alleged that they were manhandled by drunk policemen late Wednesday night.

Trinamool Supremo Mamata Banerjee also attacked the BJP for promising three gas cylinders in Karnataka ahead of assembly polls, and touched upon several issues, including igniting riots on Ram Navami, depriving the state from central dues in MNREGA and other schemes, misuse of power and Centre’s attempt to intimidate people using central agencies.

Trinamool National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee said, “In coming days, select candidates in such a way that all the schemes by West Bengal government reach the people.” Mamata Banerjee was speaking at a public rally organized by a people’s connect programme, “Trianmool-e Nabo joyar’, which touched 10th day today. The West Bengal Chief Minister promised to join the programme on its last day in Ganga Sagar island.