Battle for West Bengal reaches New Delhi

The political battle for West Bengal shifted from the streets of the state to the capital’s power corridors on Friday, with representatives of both the Left Front and the Trinamool Congress meeting prime minister Manmohan Singh to try and counter each other’s propaganda.

Trinamool chief and railway minister Mamata Banerjee demanded that the army lead the anti-Maoist operation in the state.

“I asked the PM to call in the army to flush out Maoists not because I want early polls in the state, but to improve the deteriorating law and order situation,” she said.

“Our people are being killed every day and state police are neither doing their job nor letting the paramilitary do its. This is Left-sponsored genocide of Trinamool cadres,” Mamata said. “The PM told me he was aware of the seriousness of the situation,” she said.

The Left Front team led by CPI(M) MP Sitaram Yechury countered the allegation, saying it had proof that Trinamool workers were in league with Maoists in many parts of the state.