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Left Front kicks off poll campaign by lashing out at Trinamul

The ruling Left Front in West Bengal virtually kicked off its election campaign on Sunday by launching a no-holds-barred attack on the Trinamul Congress at a massive rally in Calcutta.

Lashing out at the Trinamul Congress, veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu described the party as "anti-national" and said its chief Mamata Banerjee was part of the National Democratic Alliance government which had adopted various "anti-people policies."

"After the Tehelka expose, Banerjee has just run away from the NDA out of fear," he alleged.

Ridiculing the Trinamul Congress as "a party without an agenda," Basu said "It has become so aimless that it cannot decide whether it will remain with the BJP or join hands with the Congress."

The former chief minister also accused Banerjee of joining hands with Kamtapuris and Jharkhandis, "who are out to divide the state" and alleged she was making false promises to Muslims about reserving jobs on the basis of religion.

The rally at the sprawling Brigade Parade ground was also addressed by former prime minister V P Singh, Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee and leaders of the various constituents of the front.

Bhattacherjee said his government would prevent any attempt to divide the state. He warned the Trinamul against fomenting trouble and said his government would not let the state be turned into (trouble torn) Keshpur or Garbeta.

Daring the Trinamul Congress to go to the people, the chief minister said, "We will speak our voice, let them also speak theirs. The people will have the final say. This is democracy."

Bhattacharjee accsued the Trinamul of helping the BJP to get a foothold in the state which was free from communal tensions.

V P Singh said the assembly polls in West Bengal would be important because its result would determine the realignment of political forces in the country and the role of the Left in the new situation.

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