Amit Shah threatened press to manipulate opinion polls in favour of BJP: Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata/IBNS: Targeting a few opinion polls which showed a clear victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had threatened the news channels to manipulate the survey results.
At a rally in Pathar Pratima, South 24 Parganas, Mamata said, "A day before, Amit Shah babu held a meeting with the press, treated them as well as threatened them. He (Amit Shah) asked the press to fudge the opinion poll results in favour of the BJP.
"Yesterday ABP News Hindi showed the BJP is getting 175 seats. First, they (BJP) should get 75, then think about 175."
"I am also travelling across the state. I understand people's pulse very well. Witnessing such a massive brigade here, if I can't predict that people are supporting us then it is futile for me to be in politics," she added.
While in some of the opinion polls, the BJP has been predicted a clear winner, in others, the TMC was shown having an edge while a few predicted a hung assembly.
Mamata on Thursday also appealed to people to not vote for the United Front, formed by the Left, Congress and Indian Secular Front (ISF), which she claims is helping the BJP.
"A party (ISF) has emerged suddenly. Be careful of it. The party is formed by the BJP to divide minority votes. It has been funded by the BJP," said the TMC chief.
Both the ruling TMC and opposition parties are busy in holding various rallies throughout the day as the campaign for the first phase of West Bengal polls will be ending on Thursday.
The state will vote in the first phase on Saturday.
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