‘Opposition conspiring to kill me’

“After holding a Harishchandrapur in Malda, I reached the hotel to take rest. I went to the bathroom from where I smelt smoke. As I came out of the bathroom, I saw smoke coming out of the AC and it caught fire. I started screaming after wrapping myself with quilt. Poisonous gas was emanating from the AC. I fell ill and suffered from breathing trouble. I was put on oxygen and had to take saline.

Doctors have advised rest, but I had to attend election rallies today,” she said.

Meanwhile, a case was lodged with a local police station in Malda. A forensic team and PWD department reached the spot for investigation.

TMC general secretary Mukul Roy sent a letter to the Election Commission, requesting it to initiate an inquiry into the incident.

Transport minister Madan Mitra, who was accompanying the CM in Malda Thursday, said, “We are 500 per cent sure there was a conspiracy to kill our Chief Minister. We will find out the truth behind this.”

Police have also recovered gelatin sticks and batteries from the Suri-Bolpur route, where Banerjee was supposed to pass for meetings.