Drawing parallels between the victory of Trinamool Congress in West Bengal elections and the "freedom struggle", its chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday promised good governance and vowed to end "autocracy and atrocities".
Addressing a huge gathering of supporters outside her house here after a historic win over CPI-M-led Left Front which was in power in the state for 34 years, Banerjeee said, "This is a victory of democracy, of 'ma-mati-manush' (mother, land and people)."
"We will give good governance, good administration. Not autocracy. We want to see victory of democracy. The atrocities will be stopped. The will of the people will prevail," a visibly emotional Banerjee said.
Coverage: Assembly Polls 2011
Taking a swipe at the over three-decade-old Left rule in West Bengal, she said, "This is a victory of the people over 35 years of atrocities, deprivation and oppression.
"Not only in Bengal and India, people across the world were waiting for this verdict and we express our gratitude to all of them," Banerjee said.
She said her government will bring democracy and end "one-party domination" in every sphere of life.
"The win has come after a long struggle and it was just like the freedom struggle," the 54-year-old leader said amid jubilation by her party workers.
Banerjee said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi had called her to congratulate on the victory of the TMC-Congress alliance. "The prime minister is overwhelmed with our triumph," she said.
Amid fears that the change of government after so many years might trigger political violence in the state, she appealed to supporters to celebrate the victory peacefully.
"Please maintain peace. Do not fall prey to any provocation. This is the year of 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. We should celebrate our victory peacefully as a tribute to Tagore," she said.
Banerjee said that the "victory is of 'jangal mahal' (Naxal-affected forested areas of the state), of the hills (reference to northern areas where Gorkhaland movement is on) and of our minority brethren".
Mamata invites Cong, SUCI to join her govt
Mamata, all set to take over the reins of power in West Bengal, requested party allies Congress and Left opposition Socialist Unity Centre of India, to join her government.
"I request the Congress and the SUCI to join our government," Banerjee told a group of journalists at her Kalighat residence. While Congress contested 65 seats and SUCI 19, the former so far secured 27 and were leading in 14 seats. SUCI has so far won one seat.
In New Delhi, Congress leader and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee however, said the party had not taken any decision in power sharing in West Bengal. Meanwhile, SUCI said that people had given a clear mandate against the "Atrocities of Communist Party of India-M in the last 35 years."
Also read:
PIX: Celebrations break out outside Mamata's home
Exclusive! THE Mamata Banerjee interview!
Mamata on cusp of history; Jaya to be CM again
Our motto is change not revenge: TMC
