Mohia Moitra won the 2019 election by a margin of over 60,000 votes, bagging 45 percent of the total votes polled.......
Digital desk: Senior TMC leader Mahua Moitra seems confident about winning by a greater margin in the Lok Sabha election of Krishnanagar. She believes that her victory would be a fitting retaliation for the alleged "conspiracy" to remove her from the Lok Sabha last year and damage her reputation through raids and summonses by central agencies in a cash-for-query case.
She asserted that even with all of the BJP's attempts to "sound the death knell" for constitutional democracy, India is too great for the fascists to destroy. After being expelled from the TMC last year, Moitra ran again from the same Krishnanagar seat. This time, she accused the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) of being "political agents of the saffron camp."
In an interview with PTI, Moitra said that because election commissioners are chosen by a selection committee with a two-thirds majority from the Center, the Election Commission has "lost its independence."
She said, "There is no doubt about my victory. It is about how big the margin will be, which will be decided on June 4. I live here and have been among my people for the past five years and even before that as an MLA. So there is a very strong connection, and frankly, there is no election mode as such here."
Mohia Moitra won the 2019 election by a margin of over 60,000 votes, bagging 45 percent of the total votes polled. "My victory would be a fitting response to the conspiracy to expel me and tarnish my reputation," the TMC leader added.
Known for her outspoken remarks and heated arguments in the Lok Sabha, Moitra was dismissed from the Lower House in December last year following the results of a report by the parliamentary Ethics Committee, which found her guilty of receiving gifts and illegal gratification.
The former investment banker with JP Morgan asserted that the BJP has been trying to destroy democracy in the nation, calling the Ethics Committee's recommendation for the removal a "prefixed match by a kangaroo court."
“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 too great a nation to be destroyed by these fascist thugs. This is my Karmabhoomi and my Dharmabhoomi. My people will back me 100 percent,” she said.
Even though the cash-for-query controversy abruptly ended her first tenure as a parliamentarian, it indeed raised her profile within the party, gaining the steadfast support of both the opposition and the top leadership of the TMC.
Speaking about the Enforcement Directorate's summons and the CBI raids on her property, which she has ignored, Moitra claimed that organizations are an essential component of the BJP.
In response to accusations made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, which she denied, the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal directed the CBI to raid her residence in connection with the cash-for-query issue.
Moreover, the Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to her and businessman Darshan Hiranandani for questioning in a case involving contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Though she raised doubts about the poll panel taking any action on the issue, Moitra recently protested to the EC, claiming that the BJP was using the CBI and the ED to undermine her campaign and damage her reputation before the polls.
Moitra added, “The EC itself has now lost its independence. The commissioners are handpicked by the two-thirds majority of the prime minister and the home minister. Within 30 minutes, 200 names were given to choose (two Election Commissioners after the resignation of Arun Goel last month). The entire exercise is a farce."
Opposition leaders and political parties continue to write to the EC, according to the former MLA for the Karimpur seat in the West Bengal Assembly, as "we need to write and record it for history, and that is also important."
Asked if she will continue to attack the saffron party on policy matters with the same enthusiasm if re-elected, Moitra replied, "What do you think... I'll return to my chair and sing praises to the Bharatiya Janata Party?"
Moitra has filed numerous lawsuits in the Supreme Court contesting different policies implemented by the Narendra Modi government, and he has frequently questioned the Center's role in the growth of a private conglomerate's assets.
Regarding the possibility of defeating the BJP-led NDA, given that the opposition alliance INDIA is struggling to get traction in the majority of the states. She said, “The people are the ultimate decision-makers. I have faith in the people. It may be delayed but it will happen.”
Moitra said implementation of CAA will not have much impact in her constituency, which has a considerable Matua population. Adding to that, "The Matua population is in higher numbers in the neighboring seat of Ranaghat. Here we have a small percentage. But yes, Matua organizations themselves are telling their members not to apply for CAA and mark themselves as illegal foreigners, given they have enjoyed all state benefits for the past years."
Moitra was referring to a directive issued by All India Matua Mahasangha, which urges its followers not to pursue citizenship applications if they do not possess the required documentation attesting to their past residence in Bangladesh.
"Rajmata" Amrita Roy of the Krishnanagar Royal family, her opponent from the saffron camp, was questioned about her thoughts, and she responded that it didn't matter.
The TMC leader Mohua Moitra further added, “My fight is against the BJP symbol. I am least bothered about who they have put up. June 4 will show the results."
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