Kolkata, Apr 1 : Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today said her party had not sought the support of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha in coming state assembly elections and she was against a division of West Bengal.
"I did not have any talks with them (GJM. Theyannounced this unilaterally. They are with BJP and this seems to be a game planted by CPI(M)", she told a Bengali TV channel reacting to GJM chief Bimal Gurung's announcement yesterday to support Trinamool Congress and Congress candidates in Terai and Dooars in North Bengal.
"I am against the division of Bengal. I have already said this during my last visit to Darjeeling", she said.Referring to the Left's allegation about her party's
links with Maoists, Banerjee, the Railway Minister, said she would resign if this could be proved.
"It is CPI(M) which has imported the Maoists to the state. CPI(M) has misused the joint forces in Junglemahal.Chidambaram (Union Home Minister) has understood this. But he understood it late."
She said CPI(M)'s campaign against her in the election on the issues of price rise and corruption because of her being part of the UPA government would not work.
"We do not acknowlege corruption", she said.Referring to the 2G spectrum scam, she said "whatever happened was in 2007 when CPI(M)was providing outside support
to the first UPA government.
To a question, she said Congress rebels in Bengal who were sore over seat-sharing with TC would not impact the outcome of the polls since votes would be polarised between those who wanted change and those who did not.
"We will get two-thirds majority and the Marxists will be a big zero this time from Junglemahal belt," she predicted.Banerjee alleged phones of party leaders were being tapped at the behest of chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee.
On the land acquisition issue, she said a new policy would be drafted. "Industrialists should directly purchase 100 per cent of land and the state may go for 10 per cent in only exceptional cases."
Banerjee hinted at keeping the Home portfolio, along with chief ministership, in the event of Trinamool coming to power.Banerjee accused the outgoing Assembly Speaker H A Halim of being partisan and vindictive towards the opposition members.
"The present Speaker is a state committee member of CPI(M). But if we come to power, the Speaker will not hold any party post to ensure neutrality of job," she said.
She said if Trinamool-Congress alliance comes to power, a panel of experts would be formed to scrutinise every case involving political prisoners but no murder accused would be let off.
"But the cases relating to the Maoists are different and the Centre has enacted laws in this regard", she said.To a question, Banerjee hinted at a joint campaign with
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "On the last day of discussions on railway budget, Manmohanji had told me we would be meeting in Kolkata next time. I am hopeful about a joint meeting with the PM," she said.
She also welcomed Congress President Sonia Gandhi and AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's expected visit to poll-bound Bengal. "It would be a good thing," Banerjee said.PTI
