STUNNING: After Chandrababu Naidu, Mamata Banerjee also wants to block CBI in West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee has expressed her willingness to follow Chandrababu Naidu's lead and join the block-bandwagon against the CBI in her state. 

After the Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to withdraw the rights of CBI to perform its duties in the state, Banerjee has articulated a plan for a similar move. Making a political address in Kolkata, the WB CM took cognisance of Naidu's move, which the TDP has said is because the Prime Minister is using the agency against political opponents, and said she would consider it as well.

In her address on Friday, she spoke about the 'mammoth and historic' rally she has planned in Kolkata on January 19 and proclaimed that the Lok Sabha campaign would commence from then. 

Additionally, she appears to have also made moves towards inviting her historical opposition, the Left parties, to join her fight against the BJP. Taking a jibe at the Central government, Chief Minister Banerjee encouraged the “good people” in the left-wing to come to join this endeavor, pronouncing her slogan ‘BJP hatao desh bachao’ (Eliminate BJP and save the country) 

She further alleged that the Central Government is leveraging Maoists by paying them and accused the Modi-led government of attempting to control the CBI and RBI. 

“BJP is using Maoists by giving them money. CBI and RBI they want to change everything. BJP has a few agendas right now. Mandir, NRC, communal propaganda and the statue, they only know these things. CBI to RBI, institutionally being destroyed by BJP. They are history changer, note changer, institution changer,” Banerjee said.

She further added, “NRC is the murder of democracy.  There is a connection in Assamese and Bengali, hence we want Assamese and Bengali and Bengali Muslims to come together. We want development I'm Assam.”

Urging people of Assam to intensify their protest against NRC, the Trinamool Congress will extend every possible support for the cause of Assam, she said.

Claiming that her party lacks money power like the BJP, she nevertheless announced that it would also contest polls from Jharkhand and Assam. 

Republic TV had earlier broken news of Mamata's planned rally on January 19, to which a number of Opposition leaders have been invited.