By IANS,
Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Monday questioned the political standing of the Trinamool Congress and said he doubted whether it would stay with the Congress coalition after the Lok Sabha elections.
“I cannot presume that Trinamool will stay with the Congress after the elections. I have also asked (external affairs minister) Pranab Mukherjee whether he was sure Trinamool will not switch its allegiance from his party to some other banner after one month?” Bhattacharjee told reporters at the Kolkata Press Club.
“Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani has visited Kolkata twice to address political rallies recently. Interestingly, he has not uttered a single word about Trinamool Congress or Banerjee.
“It’s also surprising that Trinamool Congress has not mentioned anything about the BJP in its party’s election manifesto.”
Accusing the Trinamool Congress of being politically bankrupt, Bhattacharjee said: “It’s extremely unfortunate that the opposition parties are silent about the separatist movements now on in the northern and western part of the state.
“Neither Trinamool Congress nor Congress has protested against the movement for a separate Gorkhaland state. They are also not saying anything when a political party is trying to include three of our western districts in neighbouring Jharkhand.
“Cashing in on this opportunity, a national party (BJP) has fielded their candidate in Darjeeling declaring they would consider this demand if they come to power at the centre. It’s a dangerous sign,” the Communist Party of India-Marxist leader said.