Buddhadeb decides to focus on development

And in case the Centre decides to stand in our way, we’ll take the people with us, Bhattacharya added, hinting that his government would be more interested to implement developmental plans. He also expressed willingness to meet the Prime Minister and other Central ministers in future. “Not now, but in future, I would like to meet the Prime Minister,” he said.

Allaying fears among the LF partners that the departure of former chief minister Jyoti Basu may change the equation to their disadvantage, Bhattacharya said: “We have no one among us of Basu’s stature and foresight, since he’s no more with the government, we have to evolve a collective leadership so that we can fill the vacuum.”

Bhattacharya, who happens to be the second Left Front and third non-Congress Chief Minister of the state, denied that the smaller LF partners have suffered from political complexes because of overawing presence of the CPI(M) in the ministry.

“It’s a coalition government and the CPI(M) cannot take all decisions alone, I have to take the partners with me,” Bhattacharya said, refuting that in absence of Basu, the CPI(M) might seek to gain more control over the government. “You cannot equate the government with the party,” Bhattacharya maintained.

In a candid mood, he added: “As the new CM, I expect the Opposition to support our good decisions and criticise us when we’re wrong.”

“We believe that the Opposition (Trinamool Congress) will help me in restoring peace in the trouble-torn pockets of Midnapore,” Bhattacharya claimed. “My talks with Trinamool Congress leaders have already borne results,” he said, adding that solution to political violence “is one of our important priorities.”.

Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, however, was in no mood for co-operation. Today, she joined the dharna at Esplanade area of central Calcutta, organised in protest against Bhattacharya becoming Chief Minister.

“We may even make it a permanent dharna site as violence is going on abated in the villages and our supporters are being killed,” Pankaj Banerjee, chairman of the Trinamool policy-making body, told The Indian Express .

In a scathing attack on the Left Front government, Mamata said that 24 years of LF rule proved disastrous for the state. “They have failed on all counts and now they are making somebody who could not contain violence in the state as Minister for Home (Police), the Chief Minister,” Mamata said. She also said that she would visit Midnapore soon to stand by those party supporters who were tortured by CPI(M) workers. “Even if one more Trinamool supporter dies at the hands of the Marxists, we will bring that dead body in front of Writers’ Building and Bhattacharya will have to answer for that,” Mamata thundered.

Bhattacharya, who has also inherited the deadening spin-offs of a devastating flood in nine districts during the Durga Puja, said: “Rehabilitation, restoration and relief of flood victims, happen to be one of most important task lying ahead.”

The new CM however felt confident that the LF would do well in the coming Assembly elections next year. Like his predecessor, Bhattacharya said: “We’ll win the election as we know that the people will reject communal forces. Basu is still with us and he would lead us in the campaigns during the Assembly polls.” Pooh-poohing the talks of a “grand alliance” of Opposition forces, Bhattacharya said: “I don’t see it as a threat, for the people will not accept a coalition between followers of Gandhi and Nathuram Godse.”

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today reiterated that there would be no hike in fares in the Railway budget to be presented by her next March. Regarding her demand for a climb-down on petro-prices, she said that she still hoped the Prime Minister would do something about it. “I have not lost my sense of decency. The Prime Minister had told me to wait for some more time and we will do that. We are optimistic he would do something, considering the plight of the general people,” Mamata said.