Thaindian News

Kolkata, Nov 2 (IANS) After her re-election as the Trinamol Congress chief, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday said the party aimed to be a national player and slammed the previous Left Front regime for the poor health services in the state. At least 28 babies have died in government hospitals since Oct 25.

She warned party cadres of stern action if they got involved in corrupt practices.

Banerjee’s name was proposed by party general secretary and Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy and seconded by all the delegates at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

She thanked her party supporters for electing her as the chairperson of the party for the third time. Earlier, she was elected to the top post in the organisational polls held in 2001 and 2006.

“We need our presence in four states to become a national party. I am confident that we can increase our strength in Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh,” she said.

Around 2,600 party delegates from West Bengal, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Jharkhand and Manipur attended the meeting.

After ending the 34-year rule of the Left Front in the state, the Trinamool has already launched its “Mission 2013″ against the communists in Tripura - the last Left citadel in the country.

The Trinamool currently has five legislators in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly and provides outside support to the Congress government in the state.

Banerjee announced that the party’s state president Subrata Bakshi would contest the Kolkata South Lok Sabha by-election to be held Nov 30.

The seat became vacant after Banerjee resigned as MP to contest state assembly by-election.

Under fire for a series of crib deaths in government hospitals in the state, Banerjee lashed out at the previous Left Front regime for the scenario as it had neglected the health sector.

“Any death is regrettable. We don’t want any death. But if you look at national statistical figures, West Bengal comes fourth after Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in terms of child mortality rate,” Banerjee said.

“If 50 babies would have died in 50 hospitals, then so much of ruckus would not have been made. But as many babies have died in the same hospital, there is so much uproar. But what can we do? In the last 34 years, the Left Front has built only one children’s hospital. That’s why there is so much pressure on a single hospital,” said the chief minister, who also holds the health portfolio.

Between Oct 25 and 28, 16 babies have died at the B.C. Roy Children’s Hospital - the only children’s referral hospital in Kolkata. The Burdwan Medical College and Hospital reported 12 infant deaths between Oct 27 and 28.

Earlier in June, 18 babies had died at the B.C. Roy Children’s Hospital.

Amid allegations of rampant corruption among Trinamool Congress cadres, Banerjee said: “We will not tolerate corruption and indiscipline. No body will be spared if found guilty.”