Expel all corrupt leaders or resign, BJP tells Mamata

Kolkata, March 21 (IANS) The West Bengal BJP on Tuesday demanded that TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expel what the former said were corrupt leaders from her party or resign herself if she failed to do so.

"We urge her to remove all corrupt people from her Trinamool Congress. But we know she does not have the guts to do so, as she herself is involved in corruption. The Chief Minister should either expel all wrongdoers from her party or resign from her position," state BJP President Dilip Ghosh told the media here.

The BJP leader's remarks came on a day the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the Calcutta High Court order that asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the Narada sting operation case.

However, the apex court asked the central agency to carry out the probe within a month, which the High Court had sought within 72 hours.

"The political scenario in West Bengal is changing fast. These verdicts (on the Narada sting case) in the High Court and the Supreme Court in quick succession will have a massive impact on state politics," Ghosh said.

The BJP leader said the Trinamool Congress government had no right to stay in power as people had lost faith in it due to several instances of corruption.

"This government has no right to stay in power. People have lost faith in this government. They are not able to tolerate the government any more. We have said earlier as well that we doubt this government would be able to complete its five-year term," he said.