The Trinamool accused Modi of “horse trading”, and said it was taking the issue to the Election Commission.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed at a rally in Hooghly district on Monday that “40 Trinamool Congress MLAs” would join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the party’s victory in the Lok Sabha election.
The Trinamool accused Modi of “horse trading”, and said it was taking the issue to the Election Commission.
Modi said the land under West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s feet is slipping and that her MLAs are keen to join the BJP.
“When the results come out on [May] 23, the lotus will start blooming and your MLAs will start leaving you. As of now, 40 of your MLAs are in touch with me. It is difficult for you to survive as you have betrayed the people of Bengal,” Modi said.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien tweeted that the party is filing a complaint with the Election Commission. O’Brien addressed Modi as “expiry babu” — as Banerjee often refers to the Prime Minister as one whose time is expired.
“Expiry Babu PM, let’s get this straight. Nobody will go with you. Not even one councillor. Are you election campaigning or horse trading! Your expiry date is near,” O’Brien tweeted.
Expiry Babu PM , let’s get this straight. Nobody will go with you. Not even one councillor. Are you election campaigning or horse trading! Your expiry date is near. Today, we are complaining to the Election Commission. Charging you with horse trading #LokSabhaElection2019
— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) April 29, 2019
He noted that the party is “complaining to the Election Commission” and “charging [the Prime Minister] with horse trading.”
