By IANS,
Kolkata : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), decimated in West Bengal assembly elections after 34 years of rule, said Friday it will play the role of a responsible opposition by accepting the people’s mandate.
“A majority of people wanted us to sit in the opposition. We respect the people’s verdict. We will act responsibly, we will not act like them (the Trinamool Congress),” said West Bengal state secretariat member Gautam Deb, who was housing minister in the Left Front government of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
Deb’s comments came after the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance crushed the Left Front.
“We will act as a responsible opposition. But I just want to ask what did they do when they were in opposition? Mamata Banerjee never came to the same table with our Chief Minister after the Singur issue,” said Deb.
“I called her (Mamata) to congratulate her, but couldn’t get through to her. I will call again,” said Deb.
When asked whether the CPI-M would attend an all-party meeting if it was called by Mamata Banerjee, Deb replied in the affirmative.
“Why not? we will surely go. But I want to ask them did they attend all-party meetings called by our chief minister. She (Mamata) had given a diktat to her leaders not to attend any all-party meeting,” said Deb.