West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee pulled out the ‘gotra’ card during the last leg of campaigning in Nandigram and declared that she is ‘Shandilya’. Now, BJP and AIMIM leaders have targeted Mamata Banerjee that this is desperation speaking.

As Mamata Banerjee downed the curtains on the final campaign in Nandigram, where she is pitted in a high-octane battle against her former confidante Suvendu Adhikari, she signed off saying her gotra is ‘Shandilya’.

“I visited a temple where the priest asked me my ‘gotra’. I told him – Maa Maati Manush, but actually, I’m Shandilya,” said Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday.

Reacting to the ‘gotra’ remark, BJP leader Giriraj Singh said, “Due to fear of losing polls, Mamata Didi has told her gotra. Didi, just tell me, if Shandilya is also the gotra of Rohingyas and infiltrators. She’s scared now, that’s why sometimes she’s attacking BJP workers like Suvendu and sometimes using her gotra.”

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has said, “What should happen to people like me who aren’t Shandilya or Janeudhari, aren’t bhakts of certain gods, don’t recite Chalisa or any Path? Every party feels that it has to show its Hindu credentials to win. Unprincipled, insulting and unlikely to succeed.”

Mamata Banerjee, who is campaigning across Bengal riding a wheelchair following her leg injury, also stood up for the first time in 20 days for the national anthem on Tuesday.

Just before the anthem started, Mamata signalled to her trusted lieutenants Subrata Bakshi and Dola Sen to come to her side. Supported by them, the West Bengal chief minister stood up on her feet and sang along.

She sat down on the wheelchair the moment the anthem was over and was later brought down from the podium by her security personnel.