TMC claims its storm puts CPI-M existence at stake

KOLKATA: The ruling Trinamool Congress claimed its sweeping victory in the panchayat elections was a storm that put the existence of the CPI(M) at stake and blew away the "signboard" of the Congress in West Bengal.

"CPI-M's existence is at stake and it has blown away the signboard of the Congress in West Bengal," party Secretary- General Partha Chatterjee said.

He claimed that the election results demonstrated that rural Bengal had outright rejected the slander campaign by the Opposition against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and positively responded to the government's development agenda.

Asked about CPI-M's claim that it had given a good fight in South and North 24 Parganas districts, he said, "If that be so, then why did CPI-M allege terror in the two districts?"

Chatterjee said the people would judge the neutrality of the State Election Commission.

He said that the party would analyse the results in areas it did not do well despite the TMC 'storm'.

To a question, the Trinamool leader said that to avert post-result violence instructions were issued to the party's zilla sabhadhipatis to ensure peace and not to be 'provoked' by the CPI(M).