Told party leaders I wanted to quit as CM: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday that she wanted to resign from the post of the Chief Minister but her proposal was turned down by her party leaders. Banerjee also said that that she expressed her wish to step down as the Chief Minister to her party colleagues in a meeting held during the day.

“I told my party colleagues at the beginning of the meeting that I don’t want to continue as the Chief Minister instead I want to continue to work as the party president… I tried to convince my party a lot but they did not accept it. As per the party’s collective decision, I will continue to work,” said Banerjee.

Banerjee also said that she does not have the mindset to work as a Chief Minister when democracy is being flooded with cash and a government is infected with communalism.

“When money floods democracy, when a government is infected with communalism I don’t have the mindset to work as a Chief Minister in such a situation,” she said.

Her comments come days after BJP achieved unprecedented success in Bengal by winning 18 seats in the state.

The TMC supremo also said that she told her party colleagues that the Lok Sabha elections were held in an emergency like situation and she had no choice but to run the government in a very humiliating situation.

“I was a powerless Chief Minister thanks to the Election Commission,” said Banerjee.

Alleging that the Lok Sabha elections were marred with communalism and money power the Chief Minister said that it was unacceptable to her.

“I said that I can’t accept an election marred with communalism and money power,” said Banerjee.

The mercurial Chief Minister said that posts are not important to her but her party matter a lot for her. She also pointed out that earlier she did not hesitate to resign from the post of the Rail Minister.

As for BJP winning 18 seats in Bengal the Chief Minister alleged that the CPI(M) transferred all its votes to BJP and was also paid by the later for it.

“They (BJP) got 18 seats. CPI(M) transferred its votes to them and they paid CPI(M) for it. They also paid some media houses and one or two persons in TMC. I don’t deny this. I have got evidence,” said Banerjee.

Not only did she alleged that the Election Commission worked for BJP but also said that that division was created between Hindus and Muslims. She made sever changes in the party organisation and changed the party presidents in several districts.

She further alleged that some EVMs was programmed beforehand.