Taslima tweets praise for Mamata, sarcasm for Buddhadeb

Controversial writer of Bangladeshi origin Taslima Nasreen Friday heaped praise for Mamata Banerjee and posted sarcastic tweets on the dismal performance of West Bengal's Left Front in the assembly elections, asking how Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee could lose when he threw her out of the state "to get Muslim votes".

"How come Buddhadeb Bhattacharya (Bhattacharjee) is losing! He threw me out of West Bengal to get Muslim-votes! Ah, still a nightmare! (sic)," Nasreen tweeted.

Nasreen shot to fame with her controversial book "Lajja" and has been the target of Islamic fundamentalists. She has been in exile since 1994.

During her exile, she has lived in various countries, including France, Sweden and India - in Kolkata. However, she was dramatically bundled out of West Bengal in 2007. Despite her wish to return to the state, the Left government did not pay any heed to her request.

Hopeful of returning to West Bengal after the change in power, Nasreen said: "Hope Mamata Bandapadhaya (Banerjee) will not prevent me from entering WB. I'm not a factor in elections. The CPM's defeat has proved it (sic)".

Commenting on the change of tide in the state after 34 years, the writer said: "If real 'change' does not happen, 'change' will be nothing but big bullies, a mere change of the ruler!"

Heaping praise on Mamata, she said: "Three cheers for Mamata. Three cheers for the women of strength. A hope is walking hand in hand with a dream".

"Jara aj lafacche, tarai abar 5 bochor por CPM ke vote debe na to!! (Those who are excited now, will they vote for the CP-M five years from now?)," she added.