“He must apologise for the gross misconduct on the part of his party cadre and the government, which failed to conduct a free and fair democratic exercise,” Dasmunsi said.
“The violence, organised by the CPM, is indicative of how completely intolerant the party is towards its opponents, as is the tragic sequence of events at Basanti in South 24-Parganas and Domjur in Howrah,” he said.
Pre-election violence was continuing in the Jalpaiguri, Malda and Murshidabad districts, he said. “It is time for all democratic parties, including the Left Front partners, to protest the cruel methods of the CPM cadre backed by the police,” Dasmunsi said.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee alleged CPM cadres have become an extra-constitutional authority at the grassroots level. “It’s a dangerous trend for democracy,” she said.
Another Trinamool Congress leader, Partha Chatterjee, advised Left Front partners to learn lessons from Basanti, where three RSP members were killed following a clash with CPM members. “They have not taken any lesson from Dinhata (On February 8, five Forward Bloc supporters were killed in police firing at Dinhata in north Bengal). Now, they should learn a lesson from Basanti. The CPM will not allow democracy to function here,” Chatterjee said at the TMC office, in Mamata Banerjee’s house at Kalighat.