SENIOR CPI (M) leader Md Salim on Friday took a jibe at the Trinamool Congress (TMC), saying that when there is an agitation against the ruling party in West Bengal, (TMC MP) Abhishek Banerjee goes to meet (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi. Salim claimed that the TMC would have not come to power in the state without Congress support.
The TMC reacted sharply to Salim’s remarks. TMC MP Shantanu said, “The TMC came to power on its own. The TMC also reduced CPI (M) and Congress to zero in the 2021 Assembly election. Working as BJP’s agent here, they became zero.”
Salim, who is the CPI (M) state secretary, was addressing a gathering during the “Insaaf Yatra” of his party’s youth wing.
“Abhishek Banerjee went to Rahul Gandhi’s house,he flew on a special plane. When we say “Catch the thieves and send them to jail, the thief falls at the feet of the Congress and says, “Dada, save me.””
But the Congress party must also understand that if they had not supported the Trinamool in 2011, Mamata Banerjee would not reached the Writers’ Building. But after rising through the ranks in the Congress and becoming a minister in the government, within six months she tried to kick the Congress. Some learn by watching, some learn by doing. The Bengal Congress has understood this.”
Reacting to Salim’s remarks, state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “Tell those who are talking big to gain knowledge first before telling us. We understand what we mean. What can be done? If someone goes to Rahul Gandhi’s home, will Rahul Gandhi say do not enter my house? We can’t do that.”
Both the CPI(M) and the Congress state leadership have maintained that although they are part of the INDIA coalition, they will not do any “adjustment” with the TMC in the coming Lok Sabha election next year. A senior CPI(M) leader said, “The party will soon begin alliance talks with the Congress in West Bengal. Before that, Salim has clarified our stand on the TMC and also warned the Congress.”
However, BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya said, “At every step, the leaders here understand that those who were, and are, Left supporters in West Bengal, cannot accept having tea with Sitaram Yechury there in Delhi. So to save face, making such statements is an attempt to mislead cadre here.”