West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday criticised the opposition bloc INDIA partners -- CPI (M) and Congress -- for "joining hands with the BJP" in West Bengal and asserted that the opposition front ceases to exist in the state.
The Chief Minister also urged people not to cast their votes in favour of Congress and the CPI (M). She was addressing a poll campaign rally in Murshidabad.
"There is no INDIA alliance in West Bengal. I played a key role in the formation of the opposition alliance INDIA. Even the name of the alliance was given by me. But here in West Bengal, the CPI (M) and Congress are working for the BJP," Mamata Banerjee said.
"Don't cast your vote in favour of the Congress and the CPI (M) if you want to defeat the BJP," she added.
Earlier in January, Mamata Banerjee had announced that her party would contest the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal alone, rebuffing efforts by the Congress leadership to negotiate a seat-sharing agreement.
Mamata Banerjee also accused the BJP of inciting violence during Ram Navami celebrations in the state, claiming that the violence in the Murshidabad district was "pre-planned".
The BJP, however, hit back at Mamata Banerjee and said she should be held to account for failing to protect Bengali Hindus, holding her responsible for the violence during Ram Navami celebrations in Murshidabad district.
