Mamata urges Opposition to unite to 'save' democracy

15:34 March 31

Mamata urges Opposition to unite to 'save' democracy

Hyderabad:Ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday has written a letter to several Opposition leaders to come together to fight the Bhartiya Janata Party's "democracy destruction policy".

The leaders which are addressed in the letter are Congress President Sonia Gandhi,  Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, President of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MK Stalin, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stating, "I strongly believe that the time has come for a united and effective struggle against BJP's attacks on democracy and Constitution."

"States governed by non-BJP parties, the BJP-led Centre is creating problems for duly elected government by misusing governor's office", read the letter.

She also asserted that the passage of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) (GNCTD) Bill is a 'grave development' and the saffron party has snatched practically all powers of a democratically elected government.

The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections concluded with an estimated 79.79 per cent voter turnout on Saturday. The polling for 31 seats in the third phase of the 294-member state assembly will be held on April 6. 

The elections for 44 seats will be held in the fourth phase on April 10.

Further, in the fifth phase on April 17, 45 seats will go to the polls. The sixth phase is scheduled for April 22 when elections for 43 seats will be done. In the seventh phase on April 26, polling will be held for 36 seats. Finally, the eighth phase is scheduled for April 29 when 35 seats will go for polling. 

The counting of votes will take place on May 2.