In what was promptly put down by her Opposition as a sign of nerves, Mamata Banerjee on Friday launched a vitriolic attack on the left Front and the Congress for their “unholy alliance” and hoped the people of Bengal will “give these self-seekers a befitting reply” in the coming Assembly elections.
The Bengal Chief Minister who released her party’s election manifesto in five different languages—Bengali, English, Hindi, Urdu and Alchiki— promised “lesser promises and more work as our party believes in policies, which are people-friendly, industry-friendly and farmer-friendly and which serve the aspirations of the people be one a Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, SC or ST.” Attacking the Opposition for maligning her party and conspiring against her she attacked both the Congress and the left for forging an alliance which was only specific and did not have a pan-Indian character.
“This selfish and unholy alliance of the Congress and the CPI(M) is aiming to grab power and so they have forged an alliance in Bengal. If they had courage they would have forged an alliance all over the country” she said wondering “why did they not allying in Kerala where they are fighting against each other!”
“I had read the character of the Congress leaders way back in 1998 and so come out of that party to form the Trinamool Congress. Then I had told that the Congress had sold itself off to the CPI(M). Now my allegations stand vindicated and these leaders stand fully exposed,” she said. Reacting to Banerjee’s remarks CPI(M) central committee member Samik lahiri said “this is a sign of desperation and nervousness. She is afraid and is losing confidence which is why she is attacking us. Had she been so confident of her so-called performance then she should have put her faith in the people instead of attacking the Congress and the left.
The Trinamool manifesto said that party was ideologically “pro-people” and based on the idea of “a Government of the people, by the people and for the people.” It read “the central idea behind its Government has been development” which was visible on all sectors of Governance.
The State was among the top performers in India and some of its schemes had won recognition at prominent international forums it claimed.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated development both the Congress and the left leaders on Friday said that whatever differences on seat-adjustment was there would be sorted out soon. The second candidates’ list published by the left Front on Thursday saw the two claims of the two parties were overlapping in at least 16 constituencies.
This led to hectic parleys between the two sides on Friday. In the evening CPI(M) central committee member Shyamal Chakrabarty said there would be “friendly fights between two sides in some seats if the situation is that despite such contests either the Congress or the left will only win. But if the situation threatens to tilt in favour of the Trinamool then any one candidate—either the left or the Congress—will withdraw.”
Congress’ Abdul Mannan said “we have come together following the desire of the people to save Bengal from an oppressive, corrupt and goonda raj. So only those steps will be taken that will justify the cause” adding the camaraderie between the two sides would not end “after travelling such a distance together in the interest of the people.”