Time to unite against BJP’s assault on democracy, constitution: Mamata Banerjee to Opposition

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written personal letters to non-BJP leaders, including Congress's Sonia Gandh, NCP's Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray, highlighting the "assaults" on democracy and constitution by the BJP-led central government.

Ahead of the second phase of polls in the state, Banerjee's letter released by the TMC on Wednesday, seeks to drum up support from opposition leaders. Referring to the passage of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill by the two Houses of Parliament, she said that it is an "extremely grave" development.

"The BJP wants to make it impossible for non-BJP parties to exercise their constitutional rights and freedoms. It wants to dilute the powers of the state governments and downgrade them to mere municipalities. In short, it wants to establish a one-party authoritarian rule in India," she wrote. "I strongly believe that the time has come for a united and effective struggle against BJP's attacks on democracy and the constitution... As the chairperson of TMC, I shall work wholeheartedly with you and all other like-minded parties in this battle."

Section 144 in Nandigram

The Election Commission has imposed Section 144 in Nandigram ahead of the second phase of assembly polls that will witness an intense contest between CM Mamata Banerjee and her former close aide Suvendu Adhikari. Meanwhile, Banerjee on Wednesday said she has photographs and videos of those who attacked her car in Nandigram on Tuesday and would take up the issue after the elections. "How dare they attack my car! I kept mum only because the elections are on. Let the elections be over, then I will take action."

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