CPM calls for junking BJP, Trinamul Congress

Kick-starting the poll campaign for the upcoming Assembly election from Sunday’s Brigade rally, veteran CPI(M) leader and former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee gave a call to its workers to “win the massive electoral battle ahead” to “remove” Trinamul Congress from Bengal. At the same time, the former chief minister asked its workers to “remove” BJP from the Centre to “save” the country.

Speaking at a public rally after a long time, the ailing CPI(M) leader, who presided over Brigade rally, said, “The condition of our state is alarming. The current state government has taken the state on the verge of destruction. This state is bankrupt, people here do not have a future, youth do not have a future, and industry is not coming; only suicides are taking place. This government is of the anti-social. This cannot take place for a long time, so we call for ‘Trinamul Hatao, Bangla Bachao (Remove Trinamul, Save Bengal).”

Ahead of the crucial 2016 Assembly election, the CPI(M) organised a massive rally at the Brigade Parade Grounds on Sunday to start its five-day organisational plenum. Sounding a clarion call to its workers to prepare for next year’s election, Mr Bhattacharjee said, “There is a massive electoral battle ahead and we have to be prepared. But we will not only fight the battle, we will fight it to win it and we have to win it.”

Due to his ill health, the former chief minister spoke briefly at the conclusion of the rally. However, it was evident from the Left workers’ response that Mr Bhattacharjee was still the most popular face among the party and statements made by him were considered important.

In the presence of party general secretary Sitaram Yechury and other politburo members, Mr Bhattacharjee slammed the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for “spreading the poison of communalism.”

“The situation in the country is not good. The BJP is spreading poison, spreading fire, and the country will be ruined. This BJP is snatching away the bread of the poor and we have to remove the BJP,” said Mr Bhattacharjee

Meanwhile, Mr Yechury asked the party cadres to take an “oath” to rise up to the challenges and to begin the New Year with renewed passion and vigour.