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Bengal results indicate change: Mamata

May 17, 2009 21:07 IST
The victory of Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha elections was indicative of a change in the Left "bastion" West Bengal as the Left parties were "totally left out" by people, its chief Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday.

The Trinamool chief also declared that her party will support and work together with the government headed by the Congress at the Centre, and would not go for 'political bargaining.'

"From a mere one seat, our strength has gone upto 19 and with our ally Socialist Unity Centre of India it is 20. Congress has also bagged six seats. It is a miracle result and indicates a change. Left is totally left out, not only from Bengal, but also from the country," Banerjee said in Kolkata.

The results were not only people's no-confidence against the ruling Left Front and state-sponsored terrorism, but also against the forcible land acquisition, the TC chief claimed.

She pointed out that of the 28 seats it contested, including the one given to SUCI, "We won 20 seats. The party lost seven seats by a narrow margin due to "rigging" in the first phase and to BJP candidates."

Banerjee accused the BJP of acting as the CPI-M's dummy in the state with the two parties reaching an understanding. "I will ask the people to understand this." Referring to senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh's victory from Darjeeling, she said the saffron party wanted to "divide" Bengal. "We will not allow it to happen. The CPI(M) is also playing this game," Mamata said.

Banerjee said the TC candidate from Balurghat lost by 5,000 odd votes and has demanded recounting. She said that her party would also challenge the result in Ghatal where the CPI-M resorted to "rigging" in Keshpur segment.

"We will take it up with the EC." Though the CPI-M resorted to rigging in the first phase, she claimed, the people "protected" her party in the second and third phases.

Appealing for calm, Banerjee asked party workers and supporters not to take out victory processions. "There is euphoria, but I have asked them not to take out victory processions." Referring to the state's development, she said her party would take necessary steps for it. "We have to win the next assembly elections. We are not against industry. I have no objection if the Nano project is implemented in 600 acre," Mamata said.

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