Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday dropped a strong hint about returning to power as she launched a fiery counterattack on the opposition, which has blamed her government for the recent flooding and nine electrocution deaths in the city.
Speaking at the inauguration of the New Alipore Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja, Mamata told the gathering, “If I can come back again, I will show what I can do.” The remark was widely seen as a signal of her intent to stage a political comeback if voters bless her in the next election.
The Chief Minister used the platform to hit out at both the BJP and CPM, who have targeted her and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim over waterlogging. “They should look at their own faces in the mirror first. Then criticise others,” Mamata said after cutting the inaugural ribbon at minister Arup Biswas’ club.
Highlighting her government’s work, Mamata defended her administration. “Bengali was, is and will be with the people. You float us in water and we push the water out. We have dug 5.5 lakh ponds in Bengal. So we can push the water out,” she said.
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Mamata also indicated that dredging and long-term flood-control measures would be a priority if she returns with the people’s mandate.
“If the dredging is not done in the coming days, if I can come back with your blessings, I will explain what I can do. If they do not do anything, I will show them what the alternative is,” she said, adding, “If they push water towards us, I will also push water towards them. How much can be tolerated? Every year is one thing.”
Mamata’s remarks, coming amid the festive fervour of Durga Puja, not only pushed back against opposition criticism but also carried an unmistakable undertone of electoral intent — signalling that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo is ready for another fight at the ballot box.
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