United Opposition to shun Didi gala over political violence

For the second time in West Bengal’s history, the entire Opposition will boycott the swearing-in of a government.
United Opposition to shun Didi gala over political violence

KOLKATA: For the second time in West Bengal’s history, the entire Opposition will boycott the swearing-in of a government.

The Left Front, supported by the Congress, staged a sit-in at Esplanade on Wednesday in protest against attacks on Opposition workers by TMC men. CPM state secretary Surjyakanta Mishra said, “We will not attend the swearing-in ceremony. The Congress whose leaders were part of our delegation that met the Governor, seeking his intervention to stop violence against Opposition workers, has also joined our sit-in.” “We’re supporting the Left Front’s protest as our workers are also being brutally attacked. Many have been murdered and rendered homeless. We will stage protest on Friday, the day of the swearing-in, ” said Congress and MLA Manas Bhuniya.

The BJP too joined the protest. Said state president Dilip Ghosh, “Since violence against our as well as other Opposition workers hasn’t stopped, we will not only boycott the swearing-in but also our workers will block Red Road where the ceremony will take place.” “I want to remind the TMC that we are in power in Delhi and their MPs will go there but how they return is their business. This violence is brutal and one-sided,” he added.

However, TMC general secretary Partha Chatterjee said, “The allegations about violence are unfounded. There have been some sporadic incidents but that too due to instigation by Opposition workers.”

In 1972 the CPM-led United Front boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of Congress chief minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray, alleging rigging in the Assembly elections in which even the former chief minister, the late Jyoti Basu, was defeated. Only 14 United Front MLAs could get elected.

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