Kolkata, March 19 (IANS) Accusing the Congress and the BJP of appeasing some religious communities during electoral battles, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Wednesday claimed her party would play an important role in the formation of the central government.
Addressing a party workers' meeting in Itahar in North Dinajpur district, Banerjee said the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) have formed a syndicate, and voting for one of them meant voting for the other two.
"We don't appease any religious communities during elections. As soon as elections approach, Congress sings paeans for Muslims and BJP appeases the Hindus," she said.
"We work for all - be it Hindus, Muslims, general category or backward classes - not just during elections," the West Bengal chief minister said.
Banerjee alleged that the Congress and the BJP have come to an "understanding" and divided Andhra Pradesh, and said she would rather face death than let them divide Bengal.
"The Congress and the BJP had a secret pact in parliament during the passage of the Telangana bill. They have divided Andhra Pradesh. It depends on the state whether it will be bifurcated or not. One has to take the state's consent. I will be prepared for death but will not cede an inch of our land," she said.
Itahar is a part of the Raiganj Lok Sabha seat, a Congress stronghold, from where union minister Deepa Dasmunsi is contesting.
Trinamool has named Satyaranjan Dasmunsi, brother of Deepa's ailing husband former union minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.
With the Congress criticising the Trinamool for "preventing" the central government from setting up an All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) at Raiganj, Banerjee Wednesday returned fire.
"What is stopping the centre from setting up AIIMS in Raiganj? Let them acquire land and do it. The centre does not keep its promises. We have given a go ahead for a medical college in Raiganj," she said.
Banerjee said neither the Congress nor the BJP would be able to form a government at the centre after the Lok Sabha polls.
"We (Trinamool) will play an important role in the formation of the next central government," she said.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 17 (IANS) Six people, including two children, died Tuesday when the autoricksh
Devendra Uppal, Hisar
BJP leader and Ticketock star Sonali Phogat was beaten by the slaps
Bomb Threat: Schools in Delhi-NCR again received bomb threat, e-mail created panic
Schools in Delhi-NCR have once again received bomb threats. On seeing the threatening e-mail, the
The survey of the Gyanvapi campus in Varanasi was completed on the third day on Monday. The repor
Modi, Obama cheered at Rajpath
New Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama were greete
Will make Delhi safe for everyone: Kejriwal
New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) Newly sworn-in Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday condemned
PM Awards Certificates of Excellence to Army Officers
New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday presented certificates of excell
Gurgaon officials booked for preparing fake votes
Gurgaon, April 2 (IANS) Three booth-level officers here have been booked after the district ele
The Supreme Court has constituted a four-member committee to negotiate agricultural laws and reso
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is participating in the Empowered Women Development India program to
