The Left Front on Thursday issued twin appeals to the people of the state — defeat Right-wing forces led by the BJP allegedly trying to destroy the Constitution, and likewise, the "corrupt" Trinamool Congress.
"To save India, its Constitution and the democratic system, defeat the BJP. To save the state, defeat Trinamool Congress," Left Front chairperson Biman Bose said in front of the media on the eve of the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Bengal.
Releasing a booklet listing the reasons for this impassioned appeal, Bose said that the BJP had made an unprecedented attack on the country's democratic legacy.
Speaking on how the Narendra Modi government had destroyed democratic values and institutions during the 10 years of its tenure, Bose said Parliament sessions had been curtailed and every voice of dissent ranging from political opponents to journalists had been gagged.
"Over two days, 146 MPs were suspended. This is unprecedented. Without the scope for any discussions bills were passed.... To have a country free of dissent, the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), NSA (National Security Act) and PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) have been made more draconian, while political leaders opposed to the government have been put in jail," the CPM veteran, flanked by leaders of Left Front partners, said.
Bringing up the issue of electoral bonds, Bose said the "ill-gotten" money was used to buy elected MLAs and bring down governments run by Opposition parties.
"Even the husband of the Union finance minister has termed electoral bonds as the biggest scam ever," Bose said, referring to a recent interview by economist Parakala Prabhakar after the Supreme Court held the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional for violating the right to information to voters.
Prabhakar, the husband of finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has dubbed the electoral bond issue "not only the biggest scam in India but the biggest scam in the world".
Hitting out at the BJP for its adherence to Manuwadi philosophy and attacks on Dalits, Bose reminded voters that "this is an election to save the country and protect the Constitution".
At the same time, the Left leader flayed the Trinamool Congress as a "hub of corruption".
Reminding people about Mamata Banerjee's past role as a BJP ally and a minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet, he said that the Trinamool that had facilitated the way for BJP leaders like Julu (Satyabrata) Mukherjee and Tapan Sikdar to Parliament.
The Left leader slammed the BJP and Trinamool for indulging in "competitive communalism" over Ram Navami celebrations.