The Congress, Left Front and CPI(M) on Sunday rejected an offer by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to form a united platform against the BJP.
“Absolutely not. We will not accept anyone who is identified as a criminal, extortionist, corrupt or communal. Even though his party is not in power in any state for the first time in 49 years, having lost the Kerala elections,” CPI(M) State Minister Mohammad Salim said in a response to the proposal moved by Banerjee on Saturday.
State Congress spokesperson Soumya Aish Roy said: “We cannot believe our ears. You (Banerjee) have invited national parties, suggesting the Congress, the Left and the far left to join you. What do you mean by far left? Do you mean the Maoists, who killed 18 Congress leaders and workers in Chhattisgarh on May 25, 2013?”
On Saturday, when BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as Prime Minister, Banerjee issued a video message. “I urge all opposition parties in Bengal, student organizations and NGOs to unite against the BJP. A united platform can be formed with all political parties opposing the BJP,” the TMC chief said.
Read also: Suvendu Adhikari takes oath as BJP’s first Chief Minister of Bengal
“Besides the national parties, I urge leftists and extreme leftists to unite in Bengal as well as in Delhi. If any political party wants to talk to me, I am available. We must remember that our first enemy is the BJP,” she added.
Responding to her statement, Adhikari said: “It has nothing to do with politics.”
In recent opinion polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 207 seats out of 294 seats in Bengal, compared to 80 seats for the TMC.
Communist Party of India State Minister Swapan Banerjee said: “The question of joining forces with Banerjee does not arise. Democracy was in danger during her regime…”
The leaders of the Transitional Military Council refused to comment on Hizb ut-Tahrir’s inquiries.
