With the civic poll win under its belt, Trinamool Congress on Thursday threw hints of cashing in on its good run by seeking early Assembly elections in West Bengal but the Election Commission said the decision will be taken only by the State.
“I am not in favour of imposition of President’s rule or dismissal of the State government. I will prefer an early election. I will request the EC to consider holding Assembly election along with Bihar and some other States due in October,” Ms. Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata.
The Railway Minister said elections in the State could be held six months before the scheduled date and any such decision lay within the jurisdiction of the EC.
But the EC said a decision on advancing elections in West Bengal would be taken by the State.
“Whether the elections there (in West Bengal) are preponed or held on time would be an academic discussion for us...Preponement of elections is not done by the EC but decided upon by the State governments,” Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla told reporters in Guwahati.
Ms. Banerjee claimed she would not have called for advancing the poll if there had been a “functioning government.
“No file is moving in the Writers Buildings. If there is a terrorist attack, what will happen? So many Maoist movements are going on. The government must be strong. I am saying this from the security point of view,” she said.
Asked about the CPI (M)’s statement that Assembly election would be held as scheduled, she said, “They have no morality and no accountability. They continue to cling on to power by force. They are in power for 34 years in this way.”
Ms. Banerjee went on to add, “The people’s verdict (civic polls) says if necessary, you fight your own way, but change has to be ushered in. Already it is too late and people can’t wait any longer.”
