West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused the CPI(M) of trying to dictate terms at the meetings of INDIA bloc, a statement which hints at the widening fissures within the opposition alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
"I suggested the name INDIA during the opposition bloc meeting. But whenever I attend the meeting, I find the Left trying to control it. This is not acceptable. I cannot agree with those with whom I had fought for 34 years," she said, addressing an all-faith rally in Kolkata.
"Despite such insults, I have adjusted and attended the INDIA bloc meetings,” she added.
In her speech, the chief minister took a veiled dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s temple visit in Assam and sought to underscore that no one confronts the BJP as directly as she does.
"How many politicians today took on the BJP head-on? Somebody went to one temple and thought it was sufficient, but it was not. I am the only one who visited the temple, gurudwara, church, and mosque. I have been fighting for a long time. When the Babri Masjid issue (demolition) happened, and violence was taking place, I was on the streets,” she said.
The CPI (M)-led Left Front, Congress, and TMC are members of the 28-party strong INDIA bloc which was formed to take on the BJP in the national level. In West Bengal, however, the CPI(M) and Congress have aligned against the TMC and BJP.
Banerjee’s all-faith rally on Monday coincided with the consecration ceremony of Ram Lall at the grand temple in Ayodhya in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The 'Sanghati March' which began from Hazra More and culminated at Park Circus Maidan was attended by religious leaders from various faiths and key members of the Trinamool Congress.
The chief minister also visited diverse places of worship, such as a temple, mosque, church, and gurdwara in Kolkata as part of the rally.
