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The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today held a rally at Kolkata's Brigade Parade ground where former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and senior party leaders including general secretary, Prakash Karat, targeted Saradha scam-hit Trinamool Congress.
The turnout was moderate if compared to the CPI(M)'s heydays. The party claimed around 4,50,000 party workers turned up for the rally. The target, however, was 10,00,000. Political observers said that the turnout was significant in the wake of the party's performance in the last polls.
Corruption and Saradha were the main themes for the rally today. Bhattacharjee said that the TMC government had reduced the state to a hellhole. "We need strength to uproot them," he said.
At the start of the rally, the state chief of West Bengal CPI(M), Biman Bose, declared Bhattacharjee as the face of the rally much to enthusiasm of party workers.
Bhattacharjee sported a new look today, white beard, et al.
He said that the BJP made an entry into the state thanks to the policies of the state government. Though leaders gave a call to fight the TMC and BJP, it was clear that the main target was TMC.
Karat said that the TMC had become synonymous with scams.
CPI(M) MP, Mohammed Salim, raised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He recalled how Banerjee had said before the Lok Sabha elections that she would tie a rope around Modi's waist for ushering in communal politics in Bengal. "Nine months later she is meeting him. Actually Mukul Roy has saved himself from the CBI by supporting Modi, now Banerjee is following his footsteps," Salim said.
With today's rally the CPI(M) kicked off its 24th state conference.
