Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek tore into the BJP on Thursday, accusing the party of influencing the judiciary and questioning Calcutta High Court’s Monday verdict that cancelled 25,753 appointments at state-sponsored and aided schools.

The Bengal government had already challenged in the Supreme Court the high court verdict the chief minister had attacked as “illegal” within hours of its delivery on Monday.

At her Mahishadal and Keshiari election rallies on Thursday, the Trinamool Congress chairperson said the 2016 SLST appointments had been cancelled because of the BJP.

“If there was some problem, they (the judiciary) could have asked for scrutiny and corrective measures…. Instead, people have been asked to return their salaries of eight years within one month, along with 12 per cent interest,” said Mamata.

“We have over 10 lakh jobs ready… but they simply don’t want recruitments to take place. Because then the BJP will have to down shutters here. That is why they file a PIL every step of the way,” she added. “I do not disrespect judges, but such judgments hurt our democracy and its processes.”

The Trinamool chief has been unsparing in her attack on the verdict and the BJP, which she accuses of having influenced it. Her focus and approach make it apparent that she would like to take this proverbial bull by the horns and instead turn this into an electoral advantage for her party, from what has now become a foremost poll plank.

In eight public addresses since the judgment was delivered, Mamata has made no bones regarding how she feels about it.

“The gaddar (the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, a Trinamool turncoat) has the CBI and the ED in one pocket, and so-called bombs in the other. The explosion he was referring to (on Saturday) was this snatching of the jobs of (nearly) 26,000 teachers, and putting the very lives of 2.5 lakh (people) at risk,” she said.

Abhishek Banerjee during the campaign in Purulia district on Thursday

“How did he know the decision of the court two days before it was made public? The only possibility is that he had dictated what they were going to announce,” she alleged. “If something happens to those affected by the judgment, will he take responsibility for it?”

At Purulia, Mamata’s nephew and heir apparent Abhishek Banerjee too pulled no punches.

“The BJP and a certain section of the judiciary are taking revenge…. The court order has the stamp of the BJP. This is condemnable,” said the Trinamool national general secretary.

“The way Calcutta High Court is getting influenced by the BJP is shocking…. We have heard of betting and fixing in cricket. What is happening here currently is the fixing of orders,” he added. “A certain section of the judiciary and the BJP are working in tandem to make people suffer.”

Both nephew and aunt mounted a scathing offensive on former judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay — who stepped down from the high court to contest on a BJP ticket from Tamluk this time — for his role in this when he was part of the judiciary.

“The one who used to consult the BJP, by his own admission, while being a sitting judge, and was the first person to start this process that resulted in so many people losing their jobs, can never do justice to the people if he gets elected,” said Mamata.

“He (Gangopadhyay) has been demanding my resignation. I demand he show the ability to feel a bit of shame, first. He has maligned the sacrosanct image of the judiciary, and is now asking me to resign. He is an indelible blemish on the judiciary, and has no right to represent the people,” she added.