Left Front govt in Bengal needs to be 'changed': Nitin Gadkari

The Left Front government, which was in power for over 33 years, was pursuing a "choked philosophy" and should be "changed" to bring progress in West Bengal, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said today.

"There is no possibility of progress including in the economic field in West Bengal as long as the CPI(M) remains in power in the state because it is pursuing a choked philosophy. It is time that people decide on changing the government," Gadkari told reporters.

He claimed that the BJP in the state would emerge stronger and provide an alternative.

"The BJP in the state had earlier got 12% votes. The response I have noticed from BJP workers is that the party is capable of making a turnaround."

The party, he said, had decided to enrol professionals and intellectuals besides people belonging to the unorganised
sector, scheduled caste and scheduled tribes.

Asked on his analysis about former ally Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Gadkari smilingly replied: "My good wishes for her."

Referring to the Left Front government's decision of reserving 10% jobs for Muslims, he said it was aimed to woo minority votes in the upcoming elections.

Gadkari accused both the Left Front government and the Congress of adopting vote bank politics without improving the
lot of Muslims.

"What is needed for Muslims is engineering and medical
colleges and education and development," he said.