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Trinamool Congress chairperson, Mamata Banerjee, made it apparent at the Martyrs' Day rally today that her adversary in West Bengal is the BJP and not the Left Front.
Banerjee said that the saffron party had become too ambitious after winning its second seat in the state. “They had one (seat) and they have gained one, yet they are behaving as though they have achieved a lot. But two (seats) will not become three, it will be reduced to zero,” she said.
She even took a swipe at BJP's media blitzkrieg. “We do not have crores of money. We sell paintings to make our ends meet. I will again paint and write before the next elections. A lot of people wanted to provide the party financial help, but I told them, I will seek their help if needed,” Banerjee pointed out.
The Chief Minister’s painting exhibition had become a talking point ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Narendra Modi, on his visit to Kolkata, had said that one of Banerjee’s paintings had fetched Rs 1.8 crore and asked her to disclose the identity of the person.
It obviously didn’t go down well with the Chief Minister who led a tirade against Modi.
“Trinamool is not just the future of West Bengal, but entire India,” she said to enthuse party workers. In her attack against the BJP, Banerjee even sought to ally with Left-minded people. Whether she meant the Left Front, it wasn't clear. But clearly, in a scenario where the Left had weakened significantly, Banerjee views the BJP as the new adversary.
“BJP said something before the polls and did completely opposite after coming to power. The BJP government has hiked the price of fuel and railway fares within a month of coming to power,” Banerjee said.
The martyrs' day, which Banerjee commemorates every year on July 21, saw a turnout of around a hundred thousand while paralysing traffic in the city.
Mamata cautions party workers
In the backdrop of allegations of extortion bids and threatening of officials of a steel plant by a section of TMC workers, party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today cautioned party workers to refrain from such activities. "Those who don't have principles and values should not come into politics. Some people are spreading canards against Trinamool but we will not fall into their trap," she told a party rally here. Banerjee's warning to her party workers comes just two days after three of its leaders of Burdwan-Asansol industrial area were suspended for alleged extortion bid and threatening officials of a steel plant at Jamuria in Burdwan district. "Don't try to become a leader by lobbying. Become a leader by working with the masses. Trinamool Congress is the only party where a leader is not made by lobbying. Those who are working hard in villages, towns will find their place in it. I will find them," Banerjee told a party rally here. To make the party stronger, she advised the workers to increase mass contact. (PTI)
