West Bengal Assembly polls: TMC postpones manifesto release following attack on Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday postponed the release of its manifesto for the upcoming elections in West Bengal, following the alleged attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, party leaders said. Banerjee, the party’s chairperson, was scheduled to release the manifesto in the afternoon at her residence in Kalighat. “The manifesto release has been postponed for the time being. It will be released after Mamata Banerjee gets well and is back home. Although our manifesto is ready, there is no question of releasing it without her,” a senior TMC leader said. The chief minister is at present undergoing treatment at the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata with injury to her left leg, waist, shoulder and neck, according to doctors. She alleged on Wednesday evening that during her campaign in Nandigram, she was attacked by four to five men who pushed her, besides banging on her the door of her car, leading to the injuries. Banerjee had released the party’s list of 291 candidates on 5 March. West Bengal will be voting in eight phases, beginning 27 March. The votes will be counted on 2 May.