March 2, 2011
Mamata calls for kick-out verdict
Kolkata, March 1: Mamata Banerjee today gave a clarion call for change, minutes after the Election Commission had announced dates for elections in Bengal. Describing the 2011 Assembly elections as “historic”, Ms Banerjee said the time and opportunity to bring in the government of Maa Mati Manush has come. Whether the change will see her taking the seat of chief minister was left unanswered by the Trinamul Congress chief, who is little more than a month away from fighting the most crucial electoral battle of her life. “This is a historic election and people will make history by bringing in a new government of Maa Mati Manush. People will take the decision on whether they will give us an opportunity,” she said at a media conference at her Kalighat residence minutes after the EC`s announcement. The Trinamul Chairperson claimed that Bengal`s voters would not give the Left an eighth term in Writers` Buildings. Mamata quoted from Rabindranath Tagore during the 20-minute news conference. “Elections will be held in the month of Baishakh, the beginning of the Bengali New Year. The victory ride of the new will start. Tumi nabo nabo rupe esho prane (May you come into my life in ever new forms),” she said, adding that the EC had done the right thing by announcing polls in six phases. Ms Banerjee urged people to go to the polling booths early, and vote for change and development. “In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, when people got the opportunity to express their views in the ballot box, they voted for change. The people wanted Assembly polls to be held early. Now, the time has come,” she said. The Trinamul chief issued a warning that loyalty towards the party and dedicated effort towards democracy, and not lobbying, will be the criteria for selecting candidates. Hitting out at the Left government, Mamata repeated her charges of non-performance and accused the ruling coalition of making empty promises. “They are not coming back to power. How will they keep promises?” Mamata asked.
