BJP, Congress appease religious communities during elections: Mamata (Lead)

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.