‘Trinamool is the right place for those who believe in Leftist principles’

Exhorting those with Leftist principles to join the Trinamool Congress, party chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took on the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) here on Monday saying its tally in the State would be reduced to zero after the next general elections.

Addressing a massive rally in the heart of the city on Martyrs’ Day to pay homage to the 13 youth Congress workers killed in police firing on July 21, 1993, much of Ms. Banerjee’s half-an-hour speech was directed at the BJP and those acting as “agents of communal elements” and “maligning” her party.

She referred to the Left parties only a few times stating, “With all respect, I say, those who believe in Leftist principles and values, join Trinamool, work for the people. Don’t sell yourself to the lure of money.”

Ms. Banerjee, once considered the staunchest critic of the Left parties, said the Trinamool was the right place for those “who have some idealism, who believe in value-based politics, as it is a party of the people.”

The speech gave ample hints that the Trinamool is considering the BJP its major political rival, even greater that the Left parties.

Attacking the BJP, Ms. Banerjee said there was no place for divisive and communal politics in the State. “The BJP had one seat. They have gained one more seat. But the way they are campaigning and behaving, it seems as if they have achieved a lot. Their two seats will never become three and will come down to zero in the next general elections,” she said.

The Trinamool Congress chairperson reiterated that she would continue to paint and write to meet the expenses of the party.

“I openly tell people don’t give money for running my government. I don’t take money from people. If election comes, I will again write and draw,” she said, adding that some people were critical of her selling paintings.

Ms. Banerjee also used the opportunity to warn party leaders and workers not to indulge in any wrongdoing. “I want our people to stay rooted to the ground and emerge as leaders on the strength of their work and not by lobbying,” she added.