Opposition Likely To Skip Mamata Banerjee's Swearing-In Ceremony

Kolkata: When Mamata Banerjee takes oath as chief minister of West Bengal for the second time on Friday, the Left, Congress and the BJP may skip the ceremony. Their reason - post poll attacks across the state by the ruling party Trinamool. One person died on Monday at Birbhum.

A 38-year-old daily wage worker Khokhon Sheikh took a bullet in the thigh on Monday morning at Singhee village in the Nanoor constituency, the hotbed of an ugly factional feud between two Trinamool groups.

Mr Sheikh's group was attacked with bombs and guns, apparently because it helped CPM win the seat. By the time he was taken to hospital at Bolpur 20 kilometres away, it was too late.

Mr Sheikh's group set the local Trinamool office on fire, which is a rare sight, according to the Left and the Congress.

The Trinamool has been attacking their workers, the Congress and the Left say, and they met the Governor on Monday for help.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, state Congress chief, said, "All over Bengal, total terror. The attempt is to wipe out all opposition from the state...it is the politics of elimination."

"An inhuman attack has been unleashed on the Opposition. Even women and polling agents are not being spared. They are being disrobed and dragged on the roads," said Left leader SK Mishra.

The BJP too took to the streets of Kolkata to protest Trinamool attacks. On Sunday, Roopa Ganguly and several other women members of the BJP were allegedly beaten up at Diamond Harbour.

"West Bengal is in flames. CM taking no action... this is the government of a goonda raj," said BJP's Chandra Bose.

The Trinamool, however, appears surprised about such claims. Lawmaker Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, said, "I have not heard of post poll violence. There is peace everywhere."

But the Governor has written about the law and order situation to Ms Banerjee, who is preparing for a grand swearing in on Friday. As of now, the state leadership of all the opposition parties has vowed to stay away.