Taking a dig at her political opponents, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today mocked at the CPI(M)-Congress alliance, calling it "unholy" and urged people to defeat the combine as it has no "ideology".
"The CPI(M) and Congress alliance is unholy one. Defeat this unholy alliance as it has no ideology," Banerjee said at her poll campaign here in West Midnapore district.
Launching her tirade against the Congress, Banerjee said, "The party has deviated so much from its principle and ideology that it doesn't even hesitate to forge an unholy alliance with the CPI(M) which had carried on attacks on Congressmen in Sabang and other places in the state several times and even killed many Congress workers in the area as well as in other parts of Bengal."
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"I have come to Sabang and its adjacent Pingla several times since the time of undivided Congress and I know how the then ruling party CPI(M) ill-treated the Congress workers. Now the Congress has entered into alliance with the CPI(M). The Congress should be ashamed of its act," Banerjee said.
Directing her ire towards Congress, she added, "The Congress today is so much devoid of its principle and ideology that it has no qualms to join hands with an all-time enemy. I had left Congress much earlier anticipating its erosion in values and ideology," Banerjee said.
"During the rule of the erstwhile LF Government, people were in panic in the entire state. The entire opposition was humiliated by the then ruling party who are known for their act in Singur, Nandigram and Netai etc. People should reject those who join hands with the CPI(M)," she said.
Claiming her government has put Jangalmahal on the development path, Banerjee said "The erstwhile Left Front government did not pay any attention to the development work in the state, but we have undertaken major development work and have restored peace in the disturbed areas like Jangalmahal and in Darjeeling hills."
Banerjee called upon people to cast their votes for Trinamool Congress candidates from Sabang and Pingla - Nirmal Ghosh and Soumen Mahapatra respectively - who were pitted against the Congress candidate Manas Bhuniya at Sabang and the LF ally DSP candidate Probodh Chandra Sinha at Pingla.
In the fifth and penultimate phase of polling in 53
constituencies spread over south Kolkata, Hooghly and South 24 Parganas districts yesterday, police personnel were said to have proactively controlled law and order situation in coordination with the central paramilitary forces.
"What has happened in these elections is unprecedented. I have seen elections since 1977 when I was a college student and have contested since 1984 Lok Sabha polls.
"But I have never seen such activities taking place in the name of elections," the TMC supremo said.
Alleging that local clubs and TMC offices had been locked by police and paramilitary forces, she said, "They were terrorising voters through the night using mikes."
"I am the chief minister of the state, even I could not sleep for two-three nights due to the police 'tandav'. The paramilitary forces are being egged on by some coward police personnel," she said.
"These coward policemen have worked at the behest of Congress, CPI(M) and BJP," Banerjee alleged.
"I have kept record of everything, what each has done, whether good or bad. I will give appropriate answer for all the atrocities if I am alive," she said.
Election, she said, is a festival of democracy, but they (EC) imposed section 144 (CrPC) and terrorised people as if curfew had been imposed, Banerjee said.
She alleged that CPI(M), Congress and BJP were controlling police stations and that a section of policemen were acting on "wild allegations" of the opposition parties.
Urging voters here in East Midnapore district, where elections are to be held on May five in the last phase, not to be afraid of central forces, she said "It is we (TMC) who will be there after a few days.
