Durgapur (WB): Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (Apr 28, 2004) dubbed communists as an 'extinct political species' and slammed the Left Front, ruling West Bengal for the last 27 years, for its failure to inject work culture, which besides trade unionism was standing in the way of investments coming to the State.

"Communists have become an extinct political species in most parts of India and surviving only in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura," Advani told an election rally for BJP's Lok Sabha candidate Sibnarayan Saha, at the Rajiv Gandhi Maidan, in Durgapur.

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Advani said, "the Left Front is ruling for the last 27 years. Absence of work culture, besides trade unionism are standing in the way of bringing investments to the State.

"If the trade unions call bandhs, who will come here to invest?" he asked.

Despite investment potential, he said lack of proper atmosphere was 'driving away' investors and there had been flight of capital.

Pilloring the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM)-led Government, the Deputy Prime Minister said, "West Bengal does not figure in competition which is going on among the States. Yet, West Bengal had the potential to be a front-runner among States."

Advani alleged that 'one-party rule' had been continuing in West Bengal for the past several years. "That is why they have no excuse to offer for failure to attract investments," he said, expressing the Centre's concern at the situation.

He appealed to the electorate to vote for the Nationalist Trinamool Congress-BJP combine 'as it is truly anti-Left and anti-Congress.'

Advani said the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government was seized with the investment situation in Left-ruled West Bengal, but added "under the Constitution, it is the responsibility of States to take the initiative."

He criticised the Left Front campaign that the NDA Government had sought to weaken the public sector.

"We are not for weakening the public sector. A misinformation campaign is being carried out by Leftists," he alleged.