Trinamool,CPM look for votes at crash site

Even as rescue workers were trying to extricate people from the mangled coaches on Monday,a political circus being played out on the fringes...

Even as rescue workers were trying to extricate people from the mangled coaches on Monday,a political circus being played out on the fringes threatened to take centerstage at the accident site with both the ruling CPM and Trinamool Congress desperately trying to outdo each other.

In fact,such was the zeal of the workers of both parties engaged in a bitter political battle ahead of the 2011 state polls that they also put up the same show at the hospital where injured were admitted.

Senior CPM leader Gokul Bairagi went to the accident site along with 20 supporters early morning. He was followed by other Left leaders and their supporters. Not to be outdone,Trinamool workers gathered in huge numbers as their chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the Sainthia station.

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Mamata Banerjee zindabad,Rail Mantri zindabad slogans greeted her as she reached the station around 12.50 pm. With RPF and police finding it difficult to control them,it was left to Mamata to strictly tell supporters not to shout slogans. At Suri Hospital too,party supporters followed Mamata as she toured different wards.

CPM supporters,under the leadership of Left MP Ramchandra Dom,were also present at the hospital,trying to reach out to the people. Student and youth groups of CPM set up a stall and put up flags and banners at various places.

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