Thaindian News

Kolkata, May 15 (IANS) Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Sunday appealed to all political parties in West Bengal to maintain peace after the assembly election results.

“I appeal to all the parties to maintain peace. Polls are an indispensable part of democracy. Every five years some win, some lose. That is not unnatural. Indira Gandhi had lost. I have also lost twice,” said Mukherjee.

“We have all tasted defeat. But we did not leave the field of democratic struggle. I appeal to the administration also. The next few days till the new government is formed, the situation may be a bit problematic,” he said.

Various incidents of political violence have been reported from different parts of the state over the last two days after the poll results were announced for the 294-member assembly.

The Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance registered a landslide and historic victory over the 34-year old Left Front government by bagging 227 seats.

In her first message to party workers after her poll triumph, Banerjee asked them to remain calm and thwart the violent activities of the Marxist supporters through peaceful and legal means.

“I appeal to all my party workers and supporters to maintain calm. Even if the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) tries to perpetrate violence, you should all refrain from violence and maintain clam and peace,” said Banerjee, who is all set to be the chief minister after she was unanimously elected leader of the Trinamool Congress legislature party Sunday.

“You should remain disciplined and maintain peace in the area. Don’t engage in any kind of violence,” Banerjee said while addressing the newly elected Trinamool legislators.

“If there are problems take the help of police administration but don’t try to force police personnel like the CPI-M people. Let the police act freely and fairly. Dislodge CPI-M’s violent tactics through peaceful and legal means,” the 56-year-old leader said.