West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya will address a meeting at Heria village near Tamluk in Medinipore district on Sunday afternoon. While Trinamool Congress leaders predict that chief minister's gathering is going to be a flop show, insiders drew our attention to things more serious.
"The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is aware of the fact that members of Krishijomi Roksha Committee and Bhumi Uchhed Protirodh committee are sure to boycott the rally. Hence the party cadres are resorting to coercion and arm twisting to ensure full attendance," say sources.
Announcements are being made like 'absentees will have to pay a fine of Rs 5,001 as fine, have to down shutters of the local market and each house has to bring rotis made of 2kg of atta to the rally'.
When CPI-M local committee was asked to comment on this, it dismissed these claims as 'baseless rumours by the opposition'.
No matter what they say, it is quite clear that the ruling party is leaving no stone unturned to make the rally a success. Which is why the public transport authorities have been asked to ferry rally attendees to and from the venue free of cost.
Unwritten notice has been floated among the vendors and shopkeepers in and around the venue to attend the rally by suspending their business.