'Oppn has no organisational strength, hence the allegations of violence'

Kolkata: Partha Chatterjee, secretary general of Trinamool Congress, said on Monday that the opposition leaders are making allegations of violence since they, as parties, do not have a strong organisational strength at the grassroot level.

Chatterjee said in areas where the opposition parties have "some organisational strength", they have fielded candidates there but in those where they are weak, the party leaders have alleged violence.

Chatterjee said over the years, the Trinamool Congress has increased the organisational strength in the state. "There is not a single household in the rural areas that are not getting benefits from the various schemes taken up by the state government. Rs 2 a kilo rice has helped the rural populace immensely. Schemes like Kanyasree, Sikshasree, Sabuj Sathi, Rupasree have changed several lives forever. The rural populace has understood that to ensure development in their areas, there is no substitute for the Trinamool Congress," he added.

Chatterjee also maintained: "The TMC had to travel a long way to come to power. There was a time when Mamata Banerjee was the party's only MP. But we did not give hope and continued to fight for the masses," he said.

Coming down heavily on BJP state president Dilip Ghosh, he said: "It is most unfortunate that Ghosh's language is not only provocative but also unparliamentary. A few days ago, he had said on the day of polls, Trinamool workers and leaders will have to go back to their homes on stretchers. Such irresponsible statements are uncalled for. Instead of addressing a Press conference and making allegations, he should go to the villages and develop contacts with the people there and increase his organisational strength."

Chatterjee reiterated that the people of Bengal are the true strength of the Trinamool Congress and they will continue to support the party for its various developmental programmes.

On Monday, the nomination process for elections to Bengal's local bodies concluded with the ruling Trinamool Congress gaining control of a Zilla Parishad even before a single vote was cast.

Panchayat elections in the state are scheduled to be held on May 1, 3 and 5 respectively.

As soon as the nomination process ended at 3 pm, it emerged that TMC had gained control of the Birbhum Zilla Parishad. The ruling party won 41 out of the 42 seats without a contest.