Trinamool bent on stalling development of Bengal: Left Front

Calling upon the people to give a rebuff to the Trinamool Congress, which he described as an "evil force", in the coming Assembly election, LF chairman Biman Bose said, "Trinamool Congress is bent on hampering any development in the state."

The rally, a show of strength for the LF which is facing its most crucial test of survival in the next election, is attended by thousands of supporters brought from across the state.

Bose alleged the Trinamool Congress in connivance with the Maoists was spreading terror and instigating violence in different parts of West Bengal and said "development is not possible in the absence of peace".

Evidently happy at the huge turnout, state Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said,
"It is clear that we are ready for the fight at the Assembly elections."

The Left Front, which has lost much electoral ground since the last panchayat elections in 2008 followed by the Lok Sabha polls in 2009, pitched hard to show its pro-poor image with most leaders, including Bhattacharjee devoting much of their speech claiming a lot of schemes for the poor.

Bhattacharjee also attacked the Congress-led UPA goverment at the Centre, saying it was mired in corruption and scams.

"Sky-high corruption has become the hallmark of the UPA government. We are fighting against such practice and will continue to do so," he said.

"Congress is a party of the wealthy and is hardly bothered by the rising prices," Bhattacharjee said.

He also took on the Trinamool Congress saying that it was hand in glove with the Maoists and was spreading terror and violence.

Bhattacharjee, however, admitted some local leaders and cadres had been behaving arrogantly and this had led to resentment among the people.

"I call on them to correct themselves and go to the people and admit mistakes," Bhattacharjee said calling on the party supporters to fight tooth and nail to win the coming elections in the state.

The Front has been in power in the state since 1977 and is for the first time faced with the a very a strong opposition in the form of Trinamool Congress, which is in alliance with the Congress.