BJP fast emerging as main opposition party in West Bengal: Shamik Bhattacharya

KOLKATA: Lone BJP member in the West Bengal Assembly Shamik Bhattacharya today asserted that his party was fast emerging as the main opposition party in the state where people were fed up with deteriorating law and order and the government's failure in other fronts.

He claimed that the people in the state identified the BJP as a viable alternative to the ruling Trinamool Congress.

After the first day's proceedings in the Assembly winter session, Bhattacharya, who won from Basirhat South seat in the recent Assembly bye-election, said, "The people are frustrated by the state-sponsored terrorism in the state."

"West Bengal is confronted by growing terrorist activities in eight bordering districts," Bhattacharya alleged claiming the party had cautioned the government on this issue long back.

"Neither the ruling party nor the main opposition party at present is found to come out with a helping hand to the people," he regretted.

Bhattacharya promised that he would set an example of a constructive opposition through presence in the House, though he was the lone member representing his party.

Criticising the Mamata Banerjee Government, he said, "This government never works on the basis of consensus and also does not believe in democratic norms."