Victory will be befitting reply to expulsion from Lok Sabha: Mahua Moitra

Mahua Moitra was expelled from the House of Commons in December.

Kolkata:

Confident of securing Krishna Nagar Lok Sabha seat with a larger margin, senior TMC leader Mahua Moitra believes that her victory will be a reversal of the “elections” that ousted her from the Lok Sabha last year. conspiracy” and tarnished her reputation with raids and subpoenas. Central agency in cash inquiry cases.

She claimed that despite the BJP’s best efforts to “sing the death knell” for constitutional democracy, India is a great country and cannot be destroyed by fascism.

Ms Moitra, who was renominated by the TMC from the same Krishna Nagar seat after being ousted last year, accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of acting as “political agents of the saffron camp”.

Speaking to PTI, Ms Moitra said the Election Commission has “lost its independence” as the commissioners are handpicked by the Election Commission and the Center has a two-thirds majority.

“There is no doubt about my victory. The question is how big the gap is and that will be decided on June 4. I live here and have been with my people for the past five years and even before that as a councilor. So it’s a very tight connection and, frankly, there’s no electoral model like that here,” she said.

She won the 2019 election by more than 60,000 votes, receiving 45% of the total vote.

“My victory would be a fitting response to the conspiracy to oust me and tarnish my reputation,” the 49-year-old politician said.

Ms Moitra, known for her outspokenness and fiery debates in the Lok Sabha, was expelled from the House of Commons in December after a report by the parliamentary ethics committee held her accountable for accepting gifts and illegal gratifications.

The former JPMorgan investment banker called the ethics commission’s expulsion recommendation “pre-matching for a kangaroo court” and claimed the BJP has been trying to destroy democracy in the country.

“I have been saying this since my first speech in Parliament. The BJP is sounding the death knell for India as a constitutional democracy… But India is a great country and cannot be destroyed by these fascist thugs,” she says.

Asked why people in her constituency would believe her views instead of the version spread by the BJP, Ms Moitra said she was a daughter of the soil.

“This is my Karmabhoomi and my Dharmabhoomi. My people will support me 100 percent,” she said.

While the cash-for-query controversy brought an abrupt end to her first term as an MP, there is no denying that it undoubtedly enhanced her standing in the party with the unwavering support of the TMC top leadership and the entire opposition.

Ms Moitra made no mention of the CBI raid at her residence and the Enforcement Directorate’s summons, claiming that these agencies are an integral part of the BJP.

Anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal directed the CBI to conduct raids on her properties in connection with the cash inquiry after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey made an allegation, which she rejected.

Separately, the Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to her and businessman Darshan Hiranandani for questioning in a case involving violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Ms Moitra recently complained to the Election Commission, alleging that the BJP was using the CBI and ED to disrupt her campaign and tarnish her image ahead of the elections, though she expressed doubts about the poll panel taking any action on the matter .

“The European Commission itself has now lost its independence. Commissioners are elected by a two-thirds majority by the prime minister and home minister. Within 30 minutes, 200 names were available (Arun Goel last month Two election commissioners) resigned. The whole exercise was a farce,” she said.

The former MP from the Kalimpur seat of the West Bengal Assembly said that opposition leaders and political parties are still writing to the Election Commission as “we need to write it down in history and that is also important”.

When asked if she would continue to attack the saffron party on policy issues with the same zeal if re-elected, Moitra retorted, “What do you think… I will return to my seat and campaign for the BJP Sing a hymn?” Ms Moitra has repeatedly questioned the Centre’s involvement in asset expansion by private conglomerates and has filed multiple cases in the Supreme Court challenging various policies enacted by the Narendra Modi government.

On whether it is possible to defeat the BJP-led NDA as the opposition bloc India does not find enough support in most states, Ms Moitra said, “The people are the ultimate decision-maker. I have faith in the people. It It may be delayed but it will happen.” The TMC leader said the implementation of CAA rules will not have much impact on her constituency as it has a sizeable Matua population.

“Matua in the neighboring Ranaghat district has a larger population. Here we have a very small percentage. But yes, the Matua organization itself told its members not to apply for CAA and tag themselves for illegal aliens because they have enjoyed all state benefits over the past few years,” she said.

Ms Moitra was referring to the All India Matua Sangha directive advising its members to abandon filing citizenship applications due to lack of necessary documents to prove their previous residential address in Bangladesh.

When asked what she thought about her opponent in the saffron camp and Krishna Nagar royal family member Amrita “Rajmata” Roy, she said the candidate was not important to her.

“My fight is against the BJP. I am least concerned about who they have installed. The results will be announced on June 4,” she said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)