Buddha continues to attack Mamata ahead of assembly polls

“No new lines have been laid. Nothing has happened. It seems that only function of the railway now is to name the stations. Can the railways run this way?” he said claiming that the proposed rail coach factory at Kanchrapara and EMD loco factory at Dankuni near Singur would not be implemented as there was no funds for them.

The state’s main opposition party Trinamool Congress has made Mamata Banerjee’s performance as Railway Minister one of the major polls issues for the upcoming Assembly elections.

After becoming railway minister in May 2009,Mamata Banerjee has given Bengal several new trains. She has also laid foundation stones for 16 factories in the state including an EMD Loco Factory at Dankuni near Singur,a rail coach factory at Kanchrapara and a wagon component factory at Jellingham near Nandigram.

Banerjee said these factories hold promises of jobs for many in the state. But Bhattacherjee,who has dismissed Mamata’s promises for jobs,had said earlier,”So many foundation stones have been laid. It will take considerable time to remove them. There will never be a factory”.

During a recent talk with Bengali TV channel,Banerjee without naming Bhattacharjee has dared him for a face-to-face debate on the performance of the railways.

The first phase of the six-phase poll in the state is scheduled to begin on April 18.