Mamata slams BJP for dropping Advani

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday criticised the BJP for dropping veteran party leader L K Advani from its candidate list for the Lok Sabha elections. She also accused BIP of disrespecting Advani.

“Advani ji is a senior person. Advani ji and Vajpayee ji were the pillars of BJP and now see how he has been left out. I feel very sad for him because if you can’t honor to a senior person you should not be disrespectful to him,” said Banerjee. She was speaking to reporters at the State Secretariat. The chief minister also said that although political parties have to bring up young leaders, they should not ignore senior leaders.

“I am also in politics and there are so many senior leaders (in my party). I cannot ignore them. We have to take care of the young but also you can’t ignore senior leaders. Deve Gowda ji is also contesting. He is a senior person,” said Banerjee.

Asked whether she will speak to Advani, the chief minister said that for now she does not want to disturb him.“I think this may be Advani ji’s last chance. I don’t want to disturb him (Advani) for now. After sometime I want to talk to him and convey my feelings to him. But let me see if the situation permits,” she said.

She also accused the BJP of forgetting their senior leaders when they don’t have anything to gain from them.