Rahul Gandhi slams Mamata Banerjee for Kolkata flyover mishap

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday used the Kolkata flyover mishap and the Sharda scam to target West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said she has failed on every front and has not fulfilled any of her pre-poll promises.

Addressing a rally in Asansol, Gandhi said from the moment the Left and the Congress joined hands, the people of Bengal knew that Mamata would never come back to power. In reference to the 31 March collapse of the under-construction flyover in Kolkata's Girish Park area has claimed the lives of at least 26 people, Gandhi said:

"In Kolkata, a bridge collapsed and many people lost their lives. Mamata ji said politics should not be done over this. I agree with her but I want to ask Mamata ji that why was work related to bridge stalled for five years? The people of West Bengal gave power to Mamata ji so that she works for their betterment. The people who suffered and lost their lives in the mishap are not the TMC party workers".

"We don't want corruption in West Bengal. We don't want only one person to rule the state. And that is why we have joined hands with the Left to fight against the TMC. Mamata ji says that she is against corruption but under her nose Sharda scam takes place. She doesn't speak a word on it. She says that she has provided employment to the youth of the state. But she has failed on that front too".

Gandhi said that once the Congress and the Left come to power in West Bengal, their first priority would be to provide jobs to the youth.

"We will definitely form the government in the state. We will bring development to the state. We would work for the upliftment of the tribals and the adivasis. We will fight against corruption. The first priority for our government will be to provide jobs to youth of the state".

West Bengal, will caste vote for 294 assembly seats which will be held in six phases starting from 4 April to 5 May.

The first phase would take place in two parts - 4 and 11 April The second phase polling will be held on 17 April, third on 21 April, fourth on 15 April, fifth on 30 April and sixth on 5 May.