The breakdown of the alliance between the Trinamul Congress and the Congress has set the stage for a new dimension in Bengal politics as the Congress is keen to stake claim as the principal Opposition party and replace the CPI(M) in the state Assembly.
Their target of attack will be chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s party in power now. Till date, the CPI(M) has enjoyed the crucial status of the principal Opposition party with its 39 MLAs.
The list includes CPI(M) politburo member Surjyakanta Mishra who has been the Leader of the Opposition while the Left Front at 61 as a combined strength. After the Congress’ exit with 42 MLAs from the Mamata Banerjee government on Saturday, the political theatre has changed drastically.
On Sunday, AICC member from West Bengal Abdul Mannan said: “We will press for being accorded as the main Opposition party in the Assembly for having the largest number of MLAs in a single party in the Opposition.”
He added, “We believe that we will be able to play a positive role in that capacity inside the Assembly as we are no more attached to the Trinamul Congress-led government’s anti-people decisions in the state. Earlier we were blamed but now we will able to reach out to the people against the present government’s failures on several issues.” A meeting will be held on October 12 at Bidhan Bhavan to take a call in consultation with the Congress high command in Delhi, he said.
Party insiders indicated that Mohammed Sohrab, the Congress Legislative Party leader now, may be fielded as the candidate for the Leader of the Opposition’s post to replace Dr Mishra of the CPI(M).
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UPA cheating youths: gujarat cm
Patan (Gujarat), Sept. 23: Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi Sunday accused the Congress-led UPA government of making false promises to youths of providing them jobs.
“See the Congress manifesto, it says we will give jobs to people from each family. In 2009, they said one crore jobs will be given. Has it happened?” Mr Modi asked a gathering, while addressing the Swami Vivekanand Youth Convention here.
“Why are they cheating youths like this? If someone cheats, we can’t forgive him like that. It is not our nature to cheat,” he said.
Mr Modi was reacting to the state Congress unit’s announcement that they would provide jobs to 10 lakh youths in the state if voted to power.
The elections in Gujarat are slated to be held later this year.
“The government in Delhi is cheating the youths of Gujarat, while we are bringing industrial development in the state,” the chief minister said.
“As per GoI survey estimates, 72 per cent of jobs created in India are coming from Gujarat,” Mr Modi said, asserting his viewpoint.
“Please don’t have expectations from Delhi,” the Gujarat chief minister advised the gathering.
“Over 3.5 lakh people have got jobs in last one decade rule of Gujarat government. One lakh more will get jobs,” he said. — PTI