Kolkata: As the ruling Trinamool Congress got yet another chance in Bengal with a landslide win in the state assembly polls here on Thursday, Mamata Banerjee hit out at the new Left-Congress combination and the BJP all of whom sought to checkmate her return to power.
Addressing a press conference here, Banerjee said, “It is an unprecedented victory despite a joint opposition unleashing violence. We have fought this election alone. The Opposition was united against us but people have given us a huge victory. Trinamool won 184 seats in 2011 in alliance. This time we fought alone.”
She further thanked the voters and attacked the opposition for spreading lies about her party.
“I thank people of Bengal from bottom of my heart for keeping faith in TMC. The opposition had spun a web of lies. I also thank all the people who had visited Kalighat temple to pray for my victory” Mamata said.
"There was an attempt to create an atmosphere of fear but people voted peacefully, fearlessly," she added.
Congratulation party workers for a thumping victory in Assembly Elections 2016, Mamata said, "Like 'Arjuna' our aim was fixed and we have achieved it today. People say why I am still no laughing and celebrating my victory, my answer is: Voters' smiles are my achievement."
Towards her party TMC's commitment of developing West Bengal, Mamata said, "I will turn Bengal again into 'Shonar Bangla'.
However, in a veiled attack on Narendra Modi-led Central government, Mamata pointed out how in past six months her government had to face many hurdles whic the party ultimately managed to sail through.
The 61-year-old feisty leader, in a very calm posture further said, "There were attempts to mislead people. Those incidents were shameful for politics. In politics, there should be a lakshmanrekha."
"There were attempts to mislead people. Those incidents were shameful for politics. As an elected government we faced several hurdles while carrying out governance. Voters were even terrorised in some places, I will take up the issue with the Election Commission," Mamata said.
She further said, "A smear campaign was launched against us for the last two years. But I thank my voters for casting their votes for TMC and want to thank the people who are biggest in this festival of democracy."
However, on a single point the TMC supremo instilled her support towards the Modi governmnet and said, "We have ideological differences with BJP but we will always support on issues that are beneficial to the people. We will support GST."
Mamata further congratulated several students of West Bengal who performed well in board examinations this year.
On government formation, she announced, "We will take oath on May 27; Session of West Bengal Assembly will be called before May 29."
"Our party will organise cultural functions from tomorrow till 30 May to thank the Maa, Mati, Manush. Tomorrow we have called a meeting of all the newly-elected MLAs at 12:30 PM. In 2011, we took oath on 20 May. It is a day of Poriborton for us," she said.
Mamata added, "Our responsibility has increased now. Our priority is the socio-economic development of downtrodden people. It is our priority to work for youth and students. We will work for artistes also. We will make Bengal the best among all."
Asked if the massive victory made her feel very important, Banerjee replied: "Please consider me just like a less important person".
"I am not a VIP , I am an LIP. Please consider me as an LIP, and I want to continue as a commoner."
Trends available for all the 294 constituencies of the assembly showed the Trinamool was in the lead in 210 seats -- well past the two-thirds majority mark of 196 -- while its main contender Left-Congress alliance was virtually decimated with its candidates ahead in only 75 constituencies.
The Congress seemed to be doing better than the Left Front by leading in 40 constituencies -- Left candidates were moving in the first position in 35.
The BJP was ahead in six and its alliance partner Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in three.
The Trinamool seemed to be sweeping away all opposition in all but two of the 20 districts in the eastern state. It was only in Malda and Murshidabad districts where the Left-Congress alliance candidates were doing well.
In Murshidabad, the alliance was in the forefront in 18 of the 22 seats, while in Malda it led in eight of the 11 constituencies.
Almost all the frontline leaders of the Trinamool, including its supremo Mamata Banerjee, occupied the pole position in their respective constituencies. Power Minister Manish Gupta was, however, trailing behind his rival Sujon Chakraborty in Jadavpur.
The dismal scenario for the Left-Congress alliance was reflected in its unofficial chief ministerial candidate, CPI-M state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra falling behind by over 4,000 votes against his Trinamool Congress opponent.
However, amid all the pervading gloom, one good news for the alliance was that former Congress president Manas Bhunia was leading in his constituency of Sabang.
In Kolkata, the Trinamool candidates had left their rivals far behind in 10 of the 11 constituencies in the city. However, in Jorasanko constituency, former state BJP president Rahul Sinha was in the lead.
The Trinamool virtually knocked out the opposition in the junglemahal area -- comprising forested stretches of mainly three western districts West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura.
It was also sweeping in Birbhum, Howrah and East Midnapore districts.
Mamata Banerjee had based her campaign on the development ushered in by her government and the various social welfare schemes it had launched.
On the other hand, the alliance had canvassed mainly on the corruption issue -- in the aftermath of the Narada sting footage that showed a number of Trinamool leaders accepting wads of currency notes in exchange of doling out favours to a fictitious company.
