Nalhati, West Bengal: Congress president Sonia Gandhi yesterday delivered a strong message to dissidents, saying people should vote in favour of the consensus candidates put up by her party and ally Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal state assembly polls.
Addressing election meetings in Nalhati in Birbhum and Salar in Murshidabad districts of West Bengal, she also lambasted the Left Front government for the "collapse" of law and order and accused it of committing atrocities on opposition workers.
She attacked the Left Front on the development plank, alleging it had led the state to the verge of "ruin" and failed to utilise central funds meant for development.
Sonia Gandhi painted a grim picture of the state's law and order situation, saying "atrocities are increasing. Common people do not feel safe. There is no law and order."
Lashing out at the Left Front for "torturing" opposition activists, Sonia Gandhi said: "Our party workers have been victims of violence. What can be said about this government?"
Training her guns on the Left Front, she said: "There should not be politics on issues benefiting common people. On such issues, we should all work together."
Sonia praised Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for supporting the policies taken up by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
"Trinamool Congress and Mamata Banerjee have always supported the policies of the UPA-2 government, taken up for the betterment of the country and people. Both Trinamool and Congress have vowed to fight together in the state to free it from the misrule of the Left Front."
Backward districts
She also pointed out that 14 districts in the state featured on the list of the country's most backward. She urged people to choose candidates nominated by the Congress-Trinamool alliance.
"We [Congress] have forged an alliance with the Trinamool to defeat the Left Front. While casting your valuable vote, please vote in favour of the alliance candidates to give a befitting reply to the Left Front and end its misrule," Sonia said.
Addressing election meetings in Nalhati in Birbhum and Salar in Murshidabad districts of West Bengal, she also lambasted the Left Front government for the "collapse" of law and order and accused it of committing atrocities on opposition workers.
She attacked the Left Front on the development plank, alleging it had led the state to the verge of "ruin" and failed to utilise central funds meant for development.
Sonia Gandhi painted a grim picture of the state's law and order situation, saying "atrocities are increasing. Common people do not feel safe. There is no law and order."
Lashing out at the Left Front for "torturing" opposition activists, Sonia Gandhi said: "Our party workers have been victims of violence. What can be said about this government?"
Training her guns on the Left Front, she said: "There should not be politics on issues benefiting common people. On such issues, we should all work together."
Sonia praised Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for supporting the policies taken up by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
"Trinamool Congress and Mamata Banerjee have always supported the policies of the UPA-2 government, taken up for the betterment of the country and people. Both Trinamool and Congress have vowed to fight together in the state to free it from the misrule of the Left Front."
Backward districts
She also pointed out that 14 districts in the state featured on the list of the country's most backward. She urged people to choose candidates nominated by the Congress-Trinamool alliance.
"We [Congress] have forged an alliance with the Trinamool to defeat the Left Front. While casting your valuable vote, please vote in favour of the alliance candidates to give a befitting reply to the Left Front and end its misrule," Sonia said.
