Former MP demands change in CPI-M leadership, lauds Mamata

Seth, who has fallen out with the party over its decision to probe graft charges against him, said the people have not erred in voting out the CPI-M led Left Front from power in 2011.

"The people did not make any mistake by defeating us in the 2011 assembly polls, or the 2009 Lok Sabha election. They rightly rose to the occasion. It was our failure."

Seth then heaped praise on Trinamool chief Banerjee, whose regime had cracked down on him for allegedly plotting violent incidents in Nandigram in 2007. Seth is now out on bail after spending 118 days in police and jail custody.

"Now at times I feel Mamata Banerjee has matured as a political administrator. Under her, West Bengal has recovered a lot from the dismal situation it was in," he told a TV channel.

In what could be music to Banerjee's ears, Seth said the Junglemahal, where the Maoists had a strong base for years, was now "peaceful" and everything was "quiet". "The Maoists have almost been finished."