Panchayat polls to be held in 3-4 months: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: Playing the poll bugle, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday declared that the panchayat elections will be held in the state in the next three-four months. She also expressed her disgust over the faction feud in the party.

Warning Trinamul Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen for allegations on her in the party’s trade union wing the party supremo publicly censured her.

“The Panchayat Polls will take place within three-four months. It is known because the power of the panchayat bodies will last till August by which the elections have to be completed by us. Without causing further delay you now embark upon completing the pending works,” she told the Trinamul rank and file at a party meeting at Uttirno in Alipore. Her announcement came hours before the state budget in the Assembly.

Cracking a whip on internal clashes the Trinamul supremo elaborated, “I am setting up an association for ICDS workers under the Trinamul. It will neither be looked after by Dola Sen nor anyone else. Chandrima Bhattacharya will be in charge of it. Everyone should focus on own responsibility I entrust them for. No one needs to interfere into other’s responsibility.”

Ms Banerjee continued, “There will be one union under the Trinamul banner. Arrangements have to be done for that. I will not allow more than one union in our party irrespective of whosoever appears to be a big leader. Everyone should note it. All of you take care so that no one of you is used by others. The use must be in the interest of the people. What the people want has to be done.”

Blaming the Congress, CPI(M) and BJP for choosing the path of strike using trade unions she told the party leaders and workers, “We are not like them. I frankly tell you: do not follow the individual leadership. You have to follow the party.” Focussing on the faction feud at Basanti and Canning in South 24 Parganas Ms Banerjee said, “I have complaint against Saukat, Jayanta Naskar and Gobinda Naskar who is in hospital however.”

She told them, “Whatever you are doing is no correct. I am really sorry to say. You have been cautioned many times earlier. Now you will be removed from your positions. It is my last warning to you. Trouble in Basanti and Canning has become a routine. It will not be tolerated. There are some black spots. I do not want to see it. If trouble takes place again, I will not spare you.”

In an oblique reference to Mukul Roy, the Trinamul supremo described him as a traitor. She repented that her party did not have funds. “If we had funds, we would have been able to contest in every seat in Tripura which is known to us. But there was a traitor in our party who broke away and joined hands with the BJP. Our party is being rebuilt there like that of Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh,” Ms Banerjee reasoned.

Accusing the Congress, CPI(M) and BJP of maintaining silence on price-hike she informed that her party would organise protest meetings and rallies on Saturdays and Sundays every week till March 8.