Kolkata: The Left-Congress alliance in West Bengal on Friday berated the newly-installed Trinamool Congress government for wasting crores of public money in holding the ostentatious swearing-in ceremony today while their party workers were being attacked.
"As Bengal bleeds & burns crores of public money is drained in d name of oath taking ceremony!How many crores of money has been spent, "CPI-M state Secretary Surya Kanta Mishra tweeted.
As Bengal bleeds & burns crores of public money is drained in d name of oath taking ceremony!How many crores of d people is wasted madam CM?
— Surjya Kanta Mishra (@SurjyaKMishra) May 27, 2016
Demanding an immediate stop to the attack against Opposition workers, Mishra in another tweet said, "CM takes oath amidst pomp&glory!!Her goons hurled bombs in d house of Haldias MLA Tapasi Mondal, a winner securing 50% plus votes! Democracy."
CM takes oath amidst pomp&glory!!Her goons hurled bombs in d house of Haldias MLA Tapasi Mondal,a winner securing 50% plus votes! Democracy?
— Surjya Kanta Mishra (@SurjyaKMishra) May 27, 2016
State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said the Congress would have attended the oath-taking ceremony had there been no attack on Opposition workers.
"We would have attended the ceremony had there been no attack on our cadres and workers. Our decision to boycott was a mark of protest against the brazen attack on Opposition workers," Chowdhury said.
Both the Congress and the Left combine had boycotted today's oath-taking ceremony. The state BJP too had boycotted the programme although Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley attended it citing the federal structure of the country.
However, other political parties in the country lauded Banerjee's return to power describing it as a great day for democracy. They hoped that today's event where they all gathered would strengthen the idea of a federal front at the Centre. Banerjee also supported the idea and said she would cooperate if such a front was formed by like-minded parties.
RJD leader Lalu Prasad congratulated Banerjee with the hope that she would play an important role in that direction. Veteran National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said that there was a possibility of the formation of a federal front at the Centre.
"There are many like-minded parties and leaders and Mamata Banerjee is one of them," he said adding "it is a great day for democracy and the secular fabric of the country".
SP leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said, "We have come here to greet her. It is a great day for all of us and democracy".
DMK leader Kanimozhi as well as AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also hailed Mamata's return to power.
