Samik Bhattacharya NEW DELHI: West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya on Sunday said that the TMC has been ‘sent into exile’ by the state’s people and sarcastically invited party leader Abhishek Banerjee to campaign in the Falta constituency ahead of the May 21 repoll.Canvassing for BJP candidate Debanshu Panda, Bhattacharya questioned Banerjee’s absence from the campaign trail despite Falta being part of the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency represented by the TMC leader.”We are missing you terribly. Please come,” Bhattacharya said in an apparent jibe at Banerjee.”The golden household of the golden boys has crumbled. Those who had promised a fight are now practising shadow boxing at home,” he added.The BJP leader alleged that the TMC leadership had disappeared from public view following the party’s electoral setback and claimed the ruling party no longer enjoyed the same organisational strength.”Police are not there, so the leaders are not there. There is no convoy, so there is no roar anymore. Please come to Falta and campaign. Our workers and district leadership will welcome you with flowers and blowing of conch shells,” he said.Mocking the TMC after the election setback,, Bhattacharya said, “Someone once said DJs would play after the results. I had said harmonium and jal tarang could also be played. Now all of it is being played inside homes.”A day earlier, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari had campaigned in Falta and claimed that the repoll would ‘re-establish voter rights where people have not been able to vote for 10 years’.Bhattacharya also asserted that BJP workers had continued their political fight in South 24 Parganas and Diamond Harbour despite alleged intimidation over the years.Expressing confidence about the repoll outcome, he said the BJP should target a victory margin of over 1.25 lakh votes for candidate Debanshu Panda, going beyond the one lakh margin suggested earlier by Adhikari.The Bengal BJP chief also appealed to TMC workers to campaign freely without fear.”Come out without hesitation, organise rallies and meetings. There will be no attack from the BJP’s side,” he said.In a political outreach to minority communities, Bhattacharya said the BJP had no quarrel with ordinary minority citizens and claimed a BJP government would create employment opportunities in South 24 Parganas.The Election Commission had countermanded the Falta election held on April 29 following allegations of large-scale irregularities, including claims of EVM tampering and voter intimidation.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosVD Satheesan Announces Kerala Cabinet Ahead Of Oath, IUML To Get 5 PostsWhy PM Modi Visited Afsluitdijk Dam In Netherlands: The Dutch Model India NeedsBhojshala Row Intensifies As Congress MP Digvijaya Singh Calls High Court Verdict “Vague”‘Lack Of Understanding About India’: MEA Hits Back At Dutch PM’s Remarks On MinoritiesIndia-Bound LPG Carrier Reaches Gujarat Safely After Crossing Strait Of HormuzIndia’s First Captagon Seizure: NCB Busts Rs 182 Cr Int’l Drug Network, Syrian National ArrestedBhagwant Mann’s Remarks On PM Modi’s Foreign Visits Trigger BJP CounterattackRajinikanth Breaks Silence On Vijay Government, Rejects Political Speculation Over Stalin MeetingKolkata Man Arrested For Sending ‘Al Qaeda’ Suicide Bomb Threat Email Against Suvendu AdhikariCNG Prices Hiked Again In Delhi-NCR As Global Oil Surge Pushes Delhi Rate Beyond Rs 80/kg123PhotostoriesOptical illusion personality test: Dancing girl or silhouette of a man? What you see first reveals if you are effortlessly confident or too kind-heartedUrvashi Rautela’s third Cannes 2026 look has the internet asking, “Isn’t this Gigi Hadid’s golden saree at NMACC?”Personality test: Choose a crown and see what kind of leader are you– bold, calm or traditional5 weekend getaways from Delhi under 500 km to escape the June heatOats vs Poha (flattened rice): Which breakfast is better for weight loss and energy?5 common signs that your dog is in pain (and what to do about it)There are only 2 countries starting with ‘Z’ and why travellers should explore themFrom Siddharth Nigam to Avika Gor: How your favourite Indian child actors look now and what they’re doing9 quiet emotional and spiritual shifts that make people distant5 smart and pocket-friendly tips to grow a grocery-saving kitchen garden for under ₹1,000123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingRishabh PantNEET PaperIPL Points TableNEET Aspirant DieKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeCBSE 2 Language RuleTS EAPCET Result 2026
NEW DELHI: West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya on Sunday said that the TMC has been ‘sent into exile’ by the state’s people and sarcastically invited party leader Abhishek Banerjee to campaign in the Falta constituency ahead of the May 21 repoll.Canvassing for BJP candidate Debanshu Panda, Bhattacharya questioned Banerjee’s absence from the campaign trail despite Falta being part of the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency represented by the TMC leader.“We are missing you terribly. Please come,” Bhattacharya said in an apparent jibe at Banerjee.“The golden household of the golden boys has crumbled. Those who had promised a fight are now practising shadow boxing at home,” he added.The BJP leader alleged that the TMC leadership had disappeared from public view following the party’s electoral setback and claimed the ruling party no longer enjoyed the same organisational strength.“Police are not there, so the leaders are not there. There is no convoy, so there is no roar anymore. Please come to Falta and campaign. Our workers and district leadership will welcome you with flowers and blowing of conch shells,” he said.Mocking the TMC after the election setback,, Bhattacharya said, “Someone once said DJs would play after the results. I had said harmonium and jal tarang could also be played. Now all of it is being played inside homes.”A day earlier, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari had campaigned in Falta and claimed that the repoll would ‘re-establish voter rights where people have not been able to vote for 10 years’.Bhattacharya also asserted that BJP workers had continued their political fight in South 24 Parganas and Diamond Harbour despite alleged intimidation over the years.Expressing confidence about the repoll outcome, he said the BJP should target a victory margin of over 1.25 lakh votes for candidate Debanshu Panda, going beyond the one lakh margin suggested earlier by Adhikari.The Bengal BJP chief also appealed to TMC workers to campaign freely without fear.“Come out without hesitation, organise rallies and meetings. There will be no attack from the BJP’s side,” he said.In a political outreach to minority communities, Bhattacharya said the BJP had no quarrel with ordinary minority citizens and claimed a BJP government would create employment opportunities in South 24 Parganas.The Election Commission had countermanded the Falta election held on April 29 following allegations of large-scale irregularities, including claims of EVM tampering and voter intimidation.
