Zeenews Bureau
Kolkata: Minutes after the Election Commission announced dates for Assembly Elections in five states, including West Bengal, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee held a press conference and said her party was seeking a change in government in the state.
“We don’t want revenge from anyone but definitely a change in the West Bengal government if TMC comes to the power,” Mamata said.
“We will restrain our cadre from violating any rules, violence and booth capturing before and during the polls,” Mamata said, with an intention to uproot the CPM ruling party in West Bengal.
Mamata also doubted the intention of the Left Front government in announcing sports quota earlier in the day, saying “what was the government doing from past 35 years? Why is it so that when elections dates are being announced the state government has suddenly announced the sports quota?”
The TMC chief also gave assurance to the common public of West Bengal, especially to the student community, that they will not be disturbed in anyway by the election campaign of her party.
The CPM already has kicked off its campaign for the Assembly Elections with a verbal assault on the TMC.
Mamata Banerjee welcomed the Election Commission's announcement
of a six-phase Assembly poll in West Bengal and said the
party's candidate list was ready.
"I welcome the Election Commission's decision to hold
Assembly polls in the state in six phases which was
understandably taken considering several factors including law
and order, state-sponsored terrorism and stockpiling of arms
that are yet to be recovered by the state government,"
Banerjee told reporters here.
Asked if she would become the next chief minister of
West Bengal ending the 35-year-old Left Front rule after the
elections, Banerjee said, "People will decide. We will fight
the election in alliance with the Congress."
To a volley of questions for a categorical answer
about her party's alliance or seat adjustment with the
Congress, Banerjee said, "Don't worry. We are already having
an alliance with the Congress. We will talk to them
(Congress). First Congress will have to decide (about the
number of seats for contesting), but our list of candidates is
ready."
Asked about ticket aspirants, Banerjee said the party
would nominate those people who are loyal to the party and
will work for the people with a sense of commitment and
dedication.
Banerjee also ruled out lobbying for party tickets
however high the expectation of a poll aspirant be.
Expressing hope that polling in Bengal would be
peaceful, the railway minister said, "The election will be
crucial when law and order is not okay and state-sponsored
terrorism in on the rise."
To a question about the lack of seat adjustment in
the last civic polls with the Congress, the Trinamool chief
observed that civic polls and Assembly polls were not the
same.
With PTI inputs
First Published: Tuesday, March 01, 2011, 21:00