Rakesh Tikait holds ‘mahapanchayat’ in Kolkata, Nandigram ahead of WB polls

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday held a ‘mahapanchayat’ in Kolkata and Nandigram on Saturday against the Centre’s three farm laws, which were passed in September last year. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader at the ‘mahapanchayat’ in Nandigram, the constituency from where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has filed nomination, and told people “to not to vote for BJP.”

“Don’t vote for BJP. If voted to power they will give away your land to big corporates and industries and make you landless. They will hand over the country to big industrialist groups putting your livelihood at stake and in danger,” Tikait said, quoted PTI.

BJP’s star contestant, Suvendhu Adhikari, who was earlier in TMC, has filed nomination from the Nandigram constituency. 

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Tikait has been leading the farmers’ protest against the three agriculture laws at the Delhi-UP border for four months and was welcomed by TMC MP Dola Sen in Kolkata on Saturday. The BKU leader also met TMC party leaders in Kolkata before leaving for Nandigram, media reports said. 

“We will be on the side of those who oppose BJP, those who will stand by the farmers and the poor,” Tikait said.

The ‘mahapanchayat’ in Kolkata, to be followed by in Nandigram, comes after Mamata Banerjee was injured this week after she was allegedly pushed by 4-5 men post filing her nomination from the Nandigram constituency. 

West Bengal is due to go for polls starting March 27. The polling in the state will be held in eight phases and the counting will take place on May 2.