Left Front swept away by 'democratic tsunami', says victorious Mamata

A jubilant Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Tuesday said the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front had been swept away by a "democratic tsunami" in the West Bengal assembly by-polls and reiterated her demand for the resignation of the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee ministry.

The CPI-M, on the other hand, conceded that the people have given a mandate against the LF nominees and promised to review the dismal performance.

Of the 10 seats that went to the hustings, the Trinamool-Congress combine bagged eight seats, while the LF got only one with Forward Bloc wresting the Goalpokhar constituency in North Dinajpur from the Congress. The CPI-M drew a blank despite being in the fray in five seats. An independent won the tenth seat.

"How many more times will the people have to give clear messages to this government that they want it to go? They have lost panchayat, municipality, Lok Sabha elections. Now these by-polls... If they do not quit now, when will they," Banerjee told a private television channel from New Delhi.

"It's a victory of 'ma, mati o manush' (her slogan of mother, soil and people). People have given a verdict for democracy and peace. People have made it clear that they think the Trinamool is for peace and development," she said.

In an apparent reference to the party winning all the seven seats it contested, she said: "The people have also given an unequivocal message that they want Trinamool to be the spearhead of the opposition combine against the LF."

"It's a democratic tsunami. The CPI-M should now realise that they can't make a comeback from this position."

In a press statement, CPI-M West Bengal unit secretary Biman Bose said that his party accepted the verdict of the people. "People have given a mandate against the LF candidates, though we have won from Goalpokhar.

"We will carry out a review to find out the cause of this result. We will also scrutinise whether the results have thrown up other issues," the statement said.

The West Bengal Pradesh Congress said it was a 'vote for change'.

"After suffering the LF for 32 ywars, people now badly want it to go. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee should put in his papers," said Pradesh Congress vice president Manas Bhuniya.

Last updated on Nov 10^th, 2009 at 19:43 pm IST--IANS