CM pushes party workers to complete pending work ahead of Panchayat polls

Kolkata: Urging her party workers to ensure completion of pending works ahead of the Panchayat polls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the polls are scheduled to be held within the next three to four months.

She also sent a strong message against a section of party workers allegedly involved in infighting and made it clear that stern action will be taken against those who are trying to 'weaken' the party.

"Panchayat election is due in three to four months. The entire process of the Panchayat elections should be completed by August. We should ensure completion of pending works by this period," Banerjee said at the extended Trinamool Congress core committee meeting at Uttirna in Alipore on Wednesday.

The party supremo maintained that 8,000 km of rural roads should be completed at the earliest. "We have completed 23,000 km of roads and constructed 5 lakh houses. Over 25 lakh houses have been constructed within the last six years and 3 lakh people have been awarded land pattas," she said, adding that the Banglar Bari programme will be held at Howrah and North 24-Parganas on February 2.

The programme in these two districts could not be held because of the by-elections at Uluberia in Howrah and Noapara in North 24-Parganas.

Banerjee instructed her district presidents and senior party leaders to ensure that party workers working tirelessly at the grassroot level for the welfare of people, are not deprived by any means.

"It may be the case that due to some factors like reservation, there may be reshuffling of candidates for the elections. But we have to ensure that those who have done good work should not be deprived. It should be kept in mind that all candidates in the elections belong to our party so there should be full cooperation to everybody who will be fielded," she said.

She urged her party workers to hold district conferences and highlight the several people-friendly schemes of the government. "From Shishu Sathi at birth to Sabuj Sathi in school to Samabyathi in death, we have schemes for all phases of life. We have schemes for backward classes and for the economically-backward sections," Banerjee said.

She also announced women's marches in every block of the state on March 6 and district-level marches on March 7, to mark the occasion of International Women's Day. "On March 8, women's rallies will be held in Kolkata and Siliguri to commemorate the occasion," she added.

Youth and students' convention will be held in Howrah on February 2 and in Siliguri on February 5.

Banerjee also warned against infighting, particularly in areas in South 24-Parganas like Bhangar, Basanti and Canning and at the same time made it clear that factions in the trade union level of the party will not be tolerated.