Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls in Bengal were a game plan of the BJP, but added categorically that she has great respect for the Election Commission of India.

“I have great respect for the constitutional body (the ECI). I am not saying anything about the ECI. But it is a BJP plan to disturb Bengal,” the chief minister said at Nabanna on Monday evening.

In the same breath, she also said: “I am very happy because they will get a befitting reply as we will get 42 seats out of 42.”

The chief minister then tried to explain why she thought the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls were part of BJP’s game plan. “It is Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal, where elections will be held in seven phases. Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats, Bihar 40 and Bengal has 42 seats. These three states will play a key role in formation of the government in Delhi. They are planning that their leaders will be able to hold more rallies in the three states. But this will not work in Bengal,” said the chief minister.

The Trinamul chief also said she had got information that another “strike” could take place in April, without mentioning what kind of strike she meant.

“I have got some information from senior journalists that there could be another strike, what strike I am not saying, in the name of so called, so called… in April,” said Mamata.

The chief minister also made it clear that extreme heat in May caused trouble for common voters if the elections were extended till the middle of that month. But she said a lengthy election schedule would actually help her travel across the state and hold several rallies.

Mamata said the BJP would not be able to find a foothold in Bengal despite its game plan as the party always had disrespect for the state.

“People of Bengal have always proved that they don’t like those who malign the image of the state. This election will again prove that the dirty game plan will not work in Bengal,” Mamata added.