Mamata advocates industrialisation

Kolkata, Jun 29 (UNI) Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has advocated industrialisation, lessening the distance between her party and the Marxists in West Bengal and giving a new dimension to today's Municipal polls in the state.

This significant change of political stand was reflected in the Trinamool supremo's campaign for the election to 13 Municipalities.

After faring well in the recently held village-centric Panchayat elections in the state, protesting against the ruling Left Front's land acquisition policy, the Trinamool chief and her party are now switching over to industrialisation in Muffasil-centric Municipal polls.

Stunning her arch rival - the CPI(M) - and imposing a sense of awe in the minds of her party supporters, Ms Banerjee, during her campaign for the Diamond Harbour Municipal poll on June 26, had observed that Trinamool Congress was giving priority to industrialisation and employment generation and was not against the state government's initiative for industrial development.

''We not only want food for all, but also jobs for everybody. We want industrialisation as it will provide employment opportunities,'' she maintained.

Ms Banerjee also announced that in the coming Assembly and Parliamentary elections, her party would canvass for industrialisation along with agriculture across the country.

Political observers, however, felt that the former Railway Minister wanted to take her party to a ''new track'' and were keeping their fingers crossed in respect of her acceptance of industrialisation in line with the CPI(M)-led state government.

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