Trinamool no different from CPI-M: Rahul

Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), March 25 (IANS) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday attacked the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal for not being different from the Left regime it ousted.

Addressing an election rally at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district, Gandhi also alleged that central government funds sent to the state never reached the beneficiaries.

"Bengal has contributed largely for the country but unfortunately it has not progressed as desired," Gandhi said.

"Earlier there was a Communist government here... Communism failed in Russia, (it) changed in China and fortunately also in Bengal...

"People had hoped the new government (in the state) will work for development, for education, for creating jobs and employment.

"Unfortunately the Trinamool government has done the same things for which it fought against the Communists," Gandhi added.

Gandhi said: "We send crores of rupees to the Bengal government. It's your money and not for the MPs and MLAs... But the sad fact is this money reaches Kolkata, but not you.

"We hope a day comes when this money, which is yours, reaches you. We are making efforts to ensure that your roads reach you."

The Congress leader said money meant for development should not be "pocketed by contractors and leaders".

Gandhi also blamed the opposition for stalling the legislation meant to reserve a third of seats in all legislatures for women.

"We want to reserve 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies but the opposition didn't let us to pass the bill," said Gandhi.

The Congress leader interacted with some tea garden workers.