Partha barb at 'Siliguri model'

Partha Chatterjee in Siliguri on Tuesday. Picture by Kundan Yolomo

TT, Siliguri, Jan. 5: State education minister and Trinamul leader Partha Chatterjee today sought to scoff at the "Siliguri model," the informal alliance between the Left Front and the Congress to keep the ruling party out of power at the civic body and Mahakuma Parishad.

"We often hear about the so-called Siliguri model. Those who are speaking of such model are overestimating themselves. Leaders like Surjya Kanta Mishra, Biman Bose and Prakash Karat are in deep thought over the model and want to ally with the Congress. The CPM has already an alliance and there are a number of parties in the Left Front. Now they want the Congress to join the alliance," Chatterjee told a news conference here this morning.

"We are not at all perturbed over the alliance as some weak parties are only trying to join hands for political interests and not saying anything about development," he added.

Chatterjee sought to sneer at the Left's win in Siliguri Municipal Corporation and Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad polls.

" Parar khelay jite bhabche Bharatborsho jitey gechi (some people who have won games in a neighbourhood are thinking that they have won the country). They have no proper agenda and people will give them an apt reply in the coming Assembly polls. Janatar daak, Mamatai thak (People's call is for Mamata to stay). We will approach people only with the agenda of development in the elections."

Chatterjee also elaborated on the Trinamul Congress's plan to hold meetings in north Bengal districts this month.

"On January 7, I will be in Balurghat to attend the inauguration of Uttarbanga Utsav. On January 8, a meeting of district-level leaders, workers, peoples' representatives and others from North and South Dinajpurs would be held in Balurghat. On the same day, a similar meeting of Malda and Murshidabad districts would be held in Malda. We are also planning a meeting of youths and students of Darjeeling district here in Siliguri on January 20," said the minister.