West Bengal Assembly polls | Don’t vote for Left and Congress, Mamata tells “Marxist friends”
The Hindu
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday courted a controversy by asking “Marxist friends” not to vote for either the CPI(M) or the Congress. The Chief Minister, who addressed three public meetings in Paschim Medinipur district, accused both parties of being in hand in glove with the BJP. “Only Trinamool Congress will fight against the BJP,” she said.
Ms. Banerjee remarks drew a lot of flak from the political parties in the Opposition, particularly the CPI(M). Sujan Chakraborty, CPI(M) leader, said it is an admission by the Chief Minister that she is a “friend of the Maoists” and had used them for “targeted killings of CPI(M) supporters”. The districts in south western Bengal also referred to Jangalmahal were under the grip of left-wing extremism from 2008-11. The Chief Minister also raised the issue of unearthing of skeletons in Paschim Medinipur in 2011. CPI(M) leader Sushanta Ghosh, who is contesting polls in Garbeta, was an accused in the case and had spent more than seven years in prison.More Related News