Trinamul, BJP talk of jobs, Left of politics

Politicians cutting across party lines today vowed to lift the economic fortunes of West Bengal, which had been 'languishing' for more than two decades, but the Left Front stayed out of this chorus.

Speaking at a seminar on 'Elections 2004 - Economic Agenda for Political Parties', organised by Bengal National Chamber of Commerce & Industry, leaders like Trinamool Congress (TC) spokesman Pankaj Banerjee said during 26 years of Left Front rule in West Bengal, the state had been relegated to the last rank in every possible parameter of development.

He said the TC manifesto had highlighted that cooperative movement was the only way out for turning around the state's economy. TC had given special emphasis to development of information technology sector.

State BJP president Tathagata Roy said the main emphasis of the NDA manifesto was on economic development. Roy said it was a positive document which was not studied properly by political adversaries.

West Bengal's ruling Left Front today expressed dismay over the election commission's decision to bring polling personnel from outside for conducting the elections in the state on May 10.

If EC singled out West Bengal 'as an exception', then it would be 'a gross insult' to the sentiments of the people of the state, Left Front chairman Biman Bose told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on 'Election 2004 - Economic Agenda of Political Parties'.

Bose said the EC should not discriminate against West Bengal alone and this practice should be followed in other states as well.