Countering Union minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee’s claims, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has categorically ruled out early Assembly polls in the state.

Mocking Banerjee’s plans to ask the Centre for early polls, he said: “Those who have been seeking early polls are probably not aware of the Constitutional provisions in this regard. No one but the state government can recommend early polls.” Banerjee had claimed that the polls will be held with in three months if Trinamool won the May 30 civic elections.

On Sunday, addressing a media conference on Sunday at the Alimuddin Street headquarters of the party, Bhattacharjee declared: “The elections to the state assembly will take place on time and there is no question of advancing it.”

Claiming the CPM’s electoral performance in the civic elections will be better compared to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, he said: “The political situation does not remain constant. Many people voted for Trinamool last year. But the situation has changed now and people are aware of it. The younger generation, the middle class and women will oppose a move by our opposition, which intends to create anarchy in the state.”

Taking the battle to the enemy camp, the chief minister then sought to know what the Trinamool Union ministers have been doing for the past one year. “There are six Union ministers from our state. They are drawing salaries, but what have they done since the second UPA government was formed?” he said.

To drive home the Congress-Trinamool rift to the voters, he said the Congress is opposing the Trinamool Congress on various issues. “The Congress is being compelled to do so because the Trinamool Congress is pursuing policies which are not acceptable to the Congress leadership.”

In this regard, the chief minister again pointed out Trinamool’s “proximity” to the Maoists, underlining that even the Centre is “helping our government to fight the red ultras”.