Rubbishing all speculations of any possible alliance between the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said no discussions will be held with the AITC.
1959 movement
He was addressing the gathering at a Left Front event in the city to commemorate the martyrs of the Food Movement in 1959. On August 31, 1959, several protesters lost their lives following violent police action when they tried to march towards the Secretariat, Writers Buildings.
Dubbing the AITC as a “party of anti-socials,” Mr. Bhattacharjee said on Sunday “there will be no talks with them. We will face them on the streets.”
He accused the ruling party in the State of ruining the industry, values and rule of law in West Bengal. Mr. Bhatttacharjee described the AITC as a “vicious party” and declared that now the confrontation between the State government and the Left Front will be “face to face.”
Earlier this week, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in an interview to a Bengali news channel said a proposal for an alliance with the CPI (M) can be “discussed” in her party. She also said that nobody was untouchable in politics.
Taking a swipe at Ms. Banerjee’s recent investment-seeking tour to Singapore, Mr. Bhattacharjee questioned its fruitfulness. “This government has no land policy. The AITC has only the policy of extortion.”
Left Front chairperson Biman Basu also rubbished any possibility of CPI (M)’s alliance with the AITC. Earlier in the day he raised questions about the AITC’s stand on secularism.
“There is no proof that the Trinamool is a dedicated to communal harmony. So, what it says is not of any importance to Leftists,” Mr. Basu said.
Even as Mr. Bhattacharjee urged Left Front workers to be more organised, the Communist Party of India (CPI), one of its key constituents, expressed concern over lack of “public support” for the Front.
“Even though people are disgusted with the AITC government, but we are still not getting their full support in our movements,” CPI State secretariat member Prabir Deb said.
Senior Forward Bloc leader and Central committee member Jayanta Roy said the Left Front was “unable to fulfil people’s expectations.”
