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.
UP Election BJP Candidates List 2022: The assembly elections in the country's most populous state
Petrol Diesel Price: Oil companies have released the prices of petrol and diesel for today. Today
Farmers sitting on strike against the Noida Authority for almost 60 days will march to Delhi toda
Defence secretary given additional charge of DRDO post
New Delhi, Jan 30 (IANS) Defence Secretary R.K. Mathur was Friday given the additional charge o
Google Bard: Google launches AI chatbot Bard in India, which will compete with ChatGPT
Tech giant Google has launched its AI tool Bard in India. Google Bard has been brought into compe
Many jobs will be done now, Twitter stirred up by the decree of new boss Elon Musk
Elon Musk has hinted at layoffs just days after he took ownership of the social media platform Tw
Pakistan: Islamabad High Court gives big relief to Imran Khan, lifts ban on live speeches
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has given a big relief to PTI President Imran Khan. The court has
Where digitization has become a dealer for the benefit of the people, then its disadvantages are
US President Joe Biden, in his address to the nation from the Oval Office, said that both Hamas a
Today is the sixth day of the farmers' agitation on the borders of Delhi against the agricultural
