Mamata ‘attacked’ after filing nomination

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday alleged she was pushed by four or five men when she was trying to get into her car during campaign for coming assembly polls in Nandigram in east Midnapore district leaving her injured in the leg.

The incident took place at around 6.15pm local time near a temple in Rayerbazar in Nandigram, hours after she filed nomination papers for coming assembly elections there.

Asked if it was a planned attack, Mamata, 66, said, "Of course it is." 

 "I was standing outside my car with the door open. I was praying from there on seeing a temple.  A few people came around my car and pushed the door which hit my leg," she added.

Mamata said her left leg was swollen because of the injury. She was taken to o state-run Seth Sukhlal Karnani Hospital after returning to Kolkata cutting short her trip there.

Nandigram will witness the most important battle in the state elections that begin this month-end. Mamata faces her former close aide Suvendu Adhikari who is now representing the BJP.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India sought a report from West Bengal police on the alleged attack, an official said. Both BJP and Congress termed the incident involving Mamata as a tool to garner public sympathy.