A week after suffering a crushing defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee on Saturday called for all opposition forces in the state
to unite against the BJP under a “joint platform.” Addressing supporters outside her Kalighat residence on Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary, the TMC chief appealed to Left parties, ultra-Left groups, student unions and NGOs opposed to the BJP to come together, even as Suvendu Adhikari took oath as Bengal’s first BJP chief minister after the party’s sweeping electoral victory. "I call upon all opposition parties, including the Leftists and the ultra-Left, to come together to form a joint platform against the BJP," Banerjee said while addressing a small gathering in front of her Kalighat residence on Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary, PTI reported. Mamata also urged national parties to join her "joint platform" to fight the BJP. She further said that she will talk with any political party if they want to hold a dialogue with her in this regard. "It is not the time to think the enemy's enemy is my friend, our first enemy is the BJP," the TMC leader said. She further claimed that atrocities were being committed against TMC workers and supporters across the state after the BJP's win. “Hooliganism is going on at places, bad elements have entered their (BJP) ranks,” Banerjee said. Also Read: Suvendu 'Sarkar' Takes Oath: Who Made It To BJP's Maiden Bengal Cabinet?
Suvendu 'Sarkar' Takes Oath
Amid chants of "Jai Shri Ram", senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday at Kolkata's iconic Brigade Parade Ground. West Bengal Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office to Adhikari and several other senior leaders as a part of the BJP's maiden cabinet in Bengal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, senior BJP leaders and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states attended the grand function.
The BJP’s victory in West Bengal ends Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year hold on power in the state.
(With agency inputs)
