TMC denies any link with CPI-M MLA murder

The Trinamool Congress today denied any connection with the murder of former CPI-M MLA Dilip Sarkar in Burdwan district and blamed the killing on the Left party's internal rivalry.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose earlier accused TMC goons for the murder describing it as a 'gameplan' to wipe out opposition from West Bengal and to terrorise people before the panchayat election.
Alleging that ever since TMC government came to power in May, 2011 anti-socials were ruling the roost in the Assansol belt in Burdwan district, Bose said that 28 people had been murdered since then.
Joining the issue, all-India general secretary of the Trinamool Congress Mukul Roy said that the murder of former CPI(M) MLA was a result of internal rivalry in the CPI(M) and it had no connection whatever with his party.

During its 34-year rule, the CPI(M) unleashed a reign of terror killing over 55,000 people, while only ten people were killed in political clashes in the last two years of which six were TMC workers, Roy alleged.
Roy claimed that the present government had been able to restore law and order in the state within two years.

"The CPI(M) is sure to be defeated in the coming panchayat election and being aware of that Bose is busy making false allegations," Roy alleged.
Reacting to Left allegation that TMC was not allowing opposition candidates to file nomination for the panchayat poll, Roy said, "The allegations are baseless. On the contrary, they are not filing nominations out of fear of defeat."

"The opposition candidates were offered police escort by the State Election Commission. They had been asked to assemble at specific places from where they were supposed to be escorted to and from the place of filing nominations. But in most cases opposition candidates did not turn up," Roy said quoting SEC commissioner Mira Pande.
Pande, Roy said, even promised that the SEC would look into the allegations of intimidation levelled by opposition parties regarding filing of nominations.
Replying to allegations that many panchayat seats were won uncontested by TMC candidates, Roy reminded Bose how CPI(M) candidates had won uncontested in previous panchayat polls without allowing the opposition to file nomination papers.

Roy said the poll would be fair and peaceful, but if the SEC failed to be neutral, it would be dangerous for the democracy.