Mamata to have lentil fritters in Narayangarh where Marxist veteran lost

After taking over as West Bengal chief minister for the second term, Mamata Banerjee on Friday asserted she would fulfil her vow of visiting Narayangarh from where CPI-M state secretary and Left Front-Congress tie-up's "face" Surjya Kanta Mishra was humbled in the recent assembly polls and have the area's famous lentil fritters.

Calling on the people of Narayangarh to vote out the Marxist veteran they have been electing since 1991, the Trinamool Congress supremo had promised to hold a victory rally and have lentil fritters if she became the chief minister again.

"If you defeat Surjya Kanta Mishra, I will give you whatever you want. If I come back as chief minister, my victory rally will begin from here. I will be your guest and have the special daaler bora (lentil fritters)," Banerjee had thundered in a high decibel poll rally at West Midnapore's Narayangarh.

And having been sworn-in as chief minister, she asserted she will keep her words.

"When I have given my word, I will surely go to Narayangarh. I have some work to do and I will also go there to eat the daaler bora," said Banerjee after chairing the first cabinet meeting of the new government.

She also refused to criticise the opposition - Left Front, Congress and the BJP - which boycotted the swearing ceremony as mark of protest against rising post poll violence.

"So many leaders were present at the ceremony, isn't that enough?

"You can invite people but it depends on their courtesy who wants to come and who doesn't. Who will respond (to the invite) and who will not it is their respective party decision. I cannot blame (them) for that. I think it's better to ignore the issue," added Banerjee.

--IANS

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