If PM can contest from Varanasi, so can I from Bengal’s Asansol: Shatrughan on ‘outsider’ remarks

By PTI

KOLKATA: TMC candidate for by-election to the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday took a jibe on the BJP for labelling him as an outsider, questioning what the saffron social gathering makes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi contesting from Varanasi.

Sinha, who can be submitting his nomination on Monday, informed reporters at Andal Airport in Paschim Bardhaman district that he was certain the voters of Asansol would root for Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, who “always stood for the development of Bengal”.

“If for national figures like the PM, contesting the Lok Sabha polls from anywhere is accepted, then the same holds true for me as well,” the actor-turned-politician mentioned.

Bengal BJP leaders like Sukanta Majumdar and Agnimitra Paul had just lately labelled Sinha as an outsider within the state.

Sinha mentioned he was touched by the love and heat of the individuals of Asansol, pointing in direction of the cheering crowd on the airport.

“The BJP would be trounced by the people of Asansol, who will vote for ‘insaf’ (justice),” he asserted.

Sinha is pitted in opposition to BJP’s Agnimitra Paul.

The Left Front fielded senior CPI(M) chief Partha Mukherjee as its candidate for the by-election to the Asansol Lok Sabha seat.

By-polls to the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency and the Ballygunje meeting seat will probably be held on April 12, and votes will probably be counted on April 16.