West Bengal polls: Opposition spinning web of lies, claims Mamata

Kolkata: With TMC set for a second term with an enhanced majority, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said coming together of CPM and Congress was a “blunder” for both the parties and accused the opposition of spinning a “web of lies” to grab power. Thanking the people for the “unprecedented victory”, Banerjee said politics in the state had hit a “historic low” during the electioneering and there should be a “Laxman Rekha” to maintain decency in public discourse. [caption id=“attachment_2789026” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Mamata Banerjee said she will take oath on 27 May. PTI[/caption] “It is an unprecedented victory despite a joint opposition unleashing violence. I thank people of Bengal from bottom of my heart for keeping faith in Trinamool Congress. The opposition had spun a web of lies which has been rejected,” Banerjee said addressing a press conference. The TMC is all set to retain power as the party was leading in 214 of 294 seats. The Left and Congress were ahead in 73 seats while BJP in seven. Asked whether she harbours hope of a prominent national role in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, she did not give a direct reply and called herself a less important person, adding “I love my country and my motherland.” About TMC’s equation with BJP, she said, “We have ideological differences with it but we will always support it on issues that are beneficial to the people.” She also said TMC will support GST Bill in Parliament as promised earlier. Terming the alliance between Congress and CPM a “blunder”, she said when “ideology is lost, everything is lost. People of West Bengal have rejected attempts to mislead them, and the conspiracies.” “TMC is not communal like BJP and we take all religions together,” she said. Banerjee said socio-economic development of the downtrodden people will be her priority and claimed there was no corruption in Bengal as being “spread by a section of the media with vested interests”. Banerjee said she will take oath on 27 May.