Congress responsible for BJP’s massive rise, says Mamata

Kolkata: Two days before the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has trained her guns on the Congress, predicting that the grand old party of the country would not be able to form the new government alone at the Centre.

Confident of playing a leading role at the Centre, she made it clear on Tuesday that other parties, including the Trinamul, which are now in the Opposition, would be indispensable to extend their support in the government formation after the polls.

Blaming the Congress for the BJP’s massive rise, the West Bengal chief minister asserted that the Congress’ failure to put up a brave fight and indulgence helped the saffron party’s growth across the country.

She reiterated that the Trinamul would form the next government at the Centre. While addressing an election campaign rally at Raiganj in North Dinajpur, she wondered whether the Congress ushered any development in Raiganj. She cautioned the voters against casting their ballots for the Congress. Her call assumes significance as her party is eyeing to win all of the 42 seats in the state.

Ms Banerjee told the Congress, “If a government has to be formed and the Congress will stake claim to do it, how will you be able to do it? You are visible only in three-four states in the country. So the government formation will not be possible without all. You alone are not enough. Had you fought a bit well, there would not have been so much rise of the BJP. They rapidly rose due to your indulgence.”

The Trinamul chief asked the crowd, “Don’t you know Jagai Madhai Gadhai in Bengal? The CPI(M), Congress and BJP are all the same. Those who are CPI(M) in the morning, become Congress in the afternoon. They again turn into BJP at night. These are the three friends. You have cast your votes for them many times. So do not waste you vote by putting your ballot in their favour this time. Vote for our candidate, who is a secular man.