Mamata stole thunder of BJP: Abhishek Banerjee

BONGAON: Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee today said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has "stolen the thunder" of the BJP while accusing the saffron party of unleashing a "shameful smear campaign against Bengal".

"Bengal gave us 34 (Lok Sabha) MPs. Modi is not sure if he can even win the Assembly in Delhi. And he dreams of winning here," Abhishek, Mamata Banerjee's nephew, said addressing a poll campaign meeting for the upcoming by-election to Bongaon Lok Sabha seat.

"They have unleashed a shameful smear campaign against Bengal," he said.

"Mamata Banerjee has stolen the thunder of BJP. Narendra Modi and Rahul Sinha (state BJP chief) are nervous," he said.

The contest for the Bongoan Lok Sabha seat has emerged as a fight among two members of the Thakur family which serves as the religious head of the Matua sect.

The BJP has fielded Subrata Thakur as the party candidate for the Lok Sabha seat. He is the son of Manjul Krishna Thakur, the former Trinamool Congress Minister, who recently joined the BJP.

He is fielded against Mamatabala Thakur, the wife of Kapil Krishna Thakur, a former Trinamool MP whose death has resulted in the by-polls. Kapil Krishna was the elder brother of Manjul Krishna Thakur.

The election at Bongoan Lok Sabha constituency is scheduled for February 13.

Along with Bongoan Lok Sabha seat, by-elections will be held in the Krishnaganj Assembly seat in Nadia district.