CPI(M) questions Trinamool's ticket to former Maoist

The CPI(M) today questioned how Trinamool Congress could give ticket to Palamu MP Kameshwar Baitha from Jharkhand, a former Maoist who had served time in jail, saying this was a pointer to the TMC's claims of honesty.

"If you accuse someone, he doesn't become guilty. But when you serve in jail that means you have been convicted by law.

Then how come a convict, who is out after serving his term, can be given ticket to fight elections?" CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose asked.

Baitha, who was earlier with JMM, had quit the party and joined the TMC a few days ago.

"This shows the discrepancy in Trinamool's claim that they are a party which symbolises honesty. It is for the people now to take a call on who is honest and who is dishonest," Bose said.

Bose also ridiculed the Trinamool Congress's claim that the ruling party would win all the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal and party supremo Mamata Banerjee's contention that a Federal Front would form the next government at the Centre.

"From senior to small leaders of Trinamool, everybody is claiming that TMC will win 42 seats in Bengal. What can be said of such childish claims? Let them dream whatever they want to," said Bose.

Bose said that the post-poll scenario would impact the formation of any kind of post-poll alliance among political parties.