- Ritabrata alleges Abhishek conspired to defeat 14 TMC candidates.
- Mamata Banerjee was reportedly first on Abhishek's defeat list.
- Conspiracy aimed for Abhishek to take full party control.
State Bureau, Kolkata: Ritabrata Banerjee, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, has made explosive allegations against TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee of hatching a conspiracy for the defeat of 14 TMC candidates, including her aunt and former CM Mamata Banerjee.
In an interview with a newspaper, he claimed that the list was prepared at Camac Street, the office of Abhishek Banerjee. Ritabrata claimed that he had sufficient evidence to prove it and could present it in court if necessary.
The Bengal LoP further claimed that Mamata's name was first in the list. He alleged that Abhishek Banerjee had planned to defeat Mamata to take complete control of the party and the next government. However, the TMC was wiped out completely.
Speaking about the other names, Ritabrata said that his name was also on the list, along with others like Monturam Pakhira, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Arup Biswas and Arunava Sen.
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Agents were blocked from polling centres: Ritabrata
He added that only two candidates, him and Arunava Sen, on the list managed to win the assembly elections. To enact the plan, Ritabrata claimed that party agents were blocked in key areas and workers were rendered toothless.
Notably, Mamata had lost the assembly election from Bhabanipur constituency this year. She had alleged irregularities in the voting and counting process. She had alleged that her party agents were not allowed into polling stations. While Ritabrata's claim has raised concerns around the allegations made by Mamata, there is no independent confirmation of a direct link between the two incidents.
Mamata had lost to CM Shuvendu Adhikari in a neck-and-neck battle that went to 17 rounds without a decisive lead by either of them. The counting completed with Adhikari's victory by 15,105 votes in Mamata's stronghold.