Kolkata: Taking the spat with ally
Congress into the open for the first time by holding a public
rally, Trinamool Congress on Monday bluntly asked it to choose its
manner of exit from the alliance in West Bengal.
"Some of them (Congress leaders) are saying that the
party does not exit from the back door, but the main entrance.
We are telling them all doors are open for them to go,"
Trinamool Congress Secretary-General Partha Chatterjee told
the rally in a dig at the statement by Mamata-baiter Congress
MP Deepa Dasmushi.
Claiming that the Congress was utilising the image of
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for its political survival,
Chatterjee, the industry and commerce minister said "If they
have the guts let them face elections without Mamata's photo
and prove that they can win on their own."
Alleging that Congress and CPI(M) had ganged up
against the chief minister to stall development in agriculture
and industry in the state initiated by her, Chatterjee said
"Congress must declare clearly whether it will side with the
CPI(M) or remain with the Trinamool. We will not tolerate
duplicity."
Stating that Congress was never serious in fighting the
CPI(M), he said "Where was the party in 1998 when the
Trinamool Congress was born? Trinamool was formed to oust the
CPI(M) from power as the Congress was never serious in taking
on the Marxists with which it had conspired."
Chatterjee alleged that when the chief minister was
arranging cheques for farmers to purchase paddy, the Congress
and CPI(M) were trying to ensure that the funds did not reach
the beneficiaries.
"Congress is now shedding crocodiles for support price
for farmers. But when the previous CPI(M) government snatched
away farmers land in Singur and Nandigram, it was Mamata
Banerjee who stood beside the farmers."
The chief minister who had on Saturday dared the
Congress to quit the alliance in the state did not attend the
rally, though the Trinamool top brass including several MPs
were present.
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 09, 2012, 17:05