This Article is From Apr 02, 2011

Bengal polls: Trinamool has not sought GJM support, says Mamata

Bengal polls: Trinamool has not sought GJM support, says Mamata
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has said her party had not sought the support of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) in coming state Assembly elections and that she was against a division of West Bengal.

"I did not have any talks with them (GJM). They announced this unilaterally. They are with BJP and this seems to be a game planted by CPM", she told a Bengali TV channel reacting to GJM chief Bimal Gurung's announcement on Thursday to support Trinamool Congress and Congress candidates in Terai and Dooars in North Bengal.

"I am against the division of Bengal. I have already said this during my last visit to Darjeeling", she said.

Referring to the Left's allegation about her party's links with Maoists, Banerjee, the Railway Minister, said she would resign if this could be proved.

"It is CPM which has imported the Maoists to the state. CPM has misused the joint forces in Junglemahal. Chidambaram (Union Home Minister) has understood this. But he understood it late."

She said CPM's campaign against her in the election on the issues of price rise and corruption because of her being part of the UPA government would not work.

"We do not acknowledge corruption", she said.

Referring to the 2G spectrum scam, she said, "Whatever happened was in 2007 when CPMwas providing outside support to the first UPA government."

To a question, she said Congress rebels in Bengal who were sore over seat-sharing with Trinamool Congress would not impact the outcome of the polls since votes would be polarised between those who wanted change and those who did not.

"We will get two-thirds majority and the Marxists will be a big zero this time from Junglemahal belt," she predicted.

Banerjee alleged phones of party leaders were being tapped at the behest of chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee.

On the land acquisition issue, she said a new policy would be drafted. "Industrialists should directly purchase 100 per cent of land and the state may go for 10 per cent in only exceptional cases."

Banerjee hinted at keeping the Home portfolio, along with chief ministership, in the event of Trinamool coming to power.

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