West Bengal Polls: Mamata Banerjee calls delimitation bill 'ploy to divide'

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the Delimitation Bill was a ploy to divide the country and said the "downfall" of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had begun.

"They have been severely humiliated. Now the people of Bengal should respond. Then we will see how they remain in power. Remember, they do not have a majority and are running the government with support of others," Banerjee said.

She claimed the Bill was not meant for women's empowerment but to divide the country. "In the name of the Women's Reservation Bill, they wanted to divide India. The fall of PM Modi has started. In the coming days, we will dethrone the BJP," she said.


Banerjee also alleged that the move was aimed at altering representation through delimitation. "They wanted to increase Lok Sabha seats to around 850 and divide Bengal as well," she said.

Urging voters to back the Trinamool Congress, she said, "This time we need to drive out the BJP. Do not vote for anyone else."

She alleged that candidates from other parties and independents were backed by the BJP. "Some are contesting as independents but are funded by the BJP. Outsiders are coming with agencies. You should not support them," she said.

Banerjee asserted that her government had already ensured women's representation. "We do not need a Bill to give women seats. We have 50% reservation in panchayats and municipalities. We have been fighting for this since 1998," she said.