‘Our goal is 30-35 LS seats, but even if we win 1 more than TMC, Mamata govt will fall’: Bengal BJP chief

Sitting Balurghat MP Sukanta Majumder faces a tough challenge this time with Trinamool Congress (TMC) fielding Cabinet Minister Biplab Mitra against him. At the same time, as the state party president, Majumder is also responsible for planning the BJP’s strategy for the Lok Sabha polls. He speaks to The Indian Express about the party’s strategy in and expectations from the state, CAA, TMC corruption and poll violence. Excerpts:

On its own, nationally, the BJP should win PM Modi’s target of at least 376 seats. The NDA will cross the 400 mark. And to achieve this target, I think we need 30 seats from Bengal, which we surely will. We may also get 35 seats in the state.

Our campaign has two broad areas of focus. On the one hand, we are campaigning about the corruption and the atrocities unleashed by the TMC against regular people. On the other hand, we are highlighting the development ushered in by PM Modi.

The mastermind of the Bangalore café blast was arrested from West Bengal. Such people are Mamata Banerjee’s target audience. She wants the state to be a cradle of communal, hyper-Islamic, anti-India activities. That is why Central agencies are getting obstructed. I would like to give a call to secular people and intellectuals of the state to save Bengal. The state faces a grave situation as it is in bad hands. Mamata Banerjee’s police are slapping molestation cases against the NIA. But as Amit Shahji had said at a rally, ‘Ulta latkake sidha karenge (Will make them come clean by hanging them upside down)’. That should be the mindset of Central agencies.

I want to make one thing clear. This (Balurghat Lok Sabha seat) being in a border district has an influx of refugees. Hindu refugees are always welcome. Personally, I believe