Will Mamata quit to save herself from Saradha ignominy, asks Left

With several leaders of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress getting arrested and grilled in connection with the Saradha scam, the opposition Left Front Thursday wondered if a beleaguered Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her ministers would resign to save themselves from ignominy.

Addressing a party gathering here, leader of opposition and Communist Party of India-Marxist veteran Surjya Kanta Mishra urged party activists to capitalize the situation when the Trinamool was on backfoot.

"The Trinamool is struggling to cope with the involvement of its leaders in the Saradha scam. She (Banerjee) may suddenly declare that she and her ministers are resigning and assembly elections will be held afresh," he said taking a jibe on Banerjee and her Trinamool.

Besides suspended Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Kunal Ghosh and fellow MP Srinjoy Bose, party leader and former IPS officer Rajat Majumdar are currently behind bars for their alleged complicity in the multi-crore rupee scam.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have among themselves, interrogated a host of Trinamool leaders including several MPs and state Textile Minister Shyamapada Mukherjee. The CBI has also summoned Transport Minister Madan Mitra for interrogation.

"This is the right time to engage in struggle. If you fail to capitalise on the opportunity, you will not get another chance. The fight to oust the Trinamool from government has to start now," said Mishra urging party workers to make efforts with an eye on the Kolkata Municipal Corporation polls slated to be held next year as well as the 2016 assembly elections.

"The fight is not just about the KMC polls, it is to oust the Trinamool from Bengal. We will continue our struggle both inside and outside the state assembly," the veteran Marxist added.