It has become a fashion to aspire for PMship: Sonia

Sonia also launched a scathing attack on the Left parties for failure to support UPA government on the nuclear deal issue.

“To meet the growing energy requirement,we went for the nuclear deal,but the Left opposed us saying it was not required,” Gandhi said addressing an election meeting in this key Lok Sabha constituency from where External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is contesting.

Attacking the Leftists in the Left Front ruled state,she said that the ambitious rural job scheme,NREGA,was not implemented properly in West Bengal.

Gandhi accused the Left Front West Bengal government of paying lip service to the poor and downtrodden sections of the society though Leftists swore by their name and claimed themselves to be their ‘messiah’.

Pointing out that West Bengal had bountiful production of paddy,she said it was a paradox that the people of the state did not have enough to appease their hunger.

The Congress president told the voters that the party-led coalition at the Centre took bold and historic decisions for the benefit of the farmers particularly the farm loan waiver scheme.

Taking a dig at the hordes of prime ministerial aspirants,Gandhi said “these days it a fashion to aspire for Prime Ministeriship. But the Congress aim is to serve the country and its people.”

The Congress president was apparently referring to RJD,Samajwadi Party and Lok Janshakti Party as she said “their purpose is to get the chair of the Prime Minister often switching sides and changing colours”.

Seeking votes for the Congress-TMC combine,Gandhi said there is a need for secular and stable govt at the Centre.

“I am sure you will vote for the combine to ensure a stable and secular government at the Centre,” she said.

Gandhi had last shared the platform with Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata during state Assembly elections in 2001 after which the TC supremo had joined hands with the NDA.

Banerjee and WBPCC Chief Pranab Mukherjee jointly campaigned in North Bengal recently under the seat sharing formula agreement following a series of meetings at the instruction of Sonia Gandhi to take on CPI(M) at the hustings.

Unsparing in her attack on the CPI(M) in West Bengal,Gandhi said,”In the name of democracy,the Marxists have unleashed dictatorship in the state.”

“In the name of democracy,the CPI(M) has perpetrated dictatorship in the state… committing atrocities on political opponents and depriving the people of their legitimate rights,” she alleged.

Echoing her son Rahul’s criticism of the state government,she said Central funds remained almost unutilised in the state for years.

“The state government has not utilised Central funds meant for the poor and the downtrodden,but had implemented certain central programmes that suited needs of their party leaders,” she alleged.

The Congress president also lashed out at the Marxist government for forcibly trying to ‘grab’ poor farmers’ land at Singur and Nandigram.

“They (Marxists) have unleashed untold atrocities on the people in the name of acquisition of land for industry,” she said.

WBPCC president and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and AICC observer (in charge of WB) K Keshava Rao were also present in the rally.