Kolkata, March 1 (IANS) West Bengal’s main opposition Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday welcomed the announcement of six-phased assembly polls in the state.

‘We welcome the decision of the Election Commission to hold assembly polls in six phases. We are with the Election Commission’s decision. Since the birth of our party Trinamool Congress, we have always welcomed the decision of the EC,’ Banerjee, whose party is a strong contender in the polls, told a media meet here.

Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Qurashi Monday announced in New Delhi that polls to elect a new assembly in West Bengal will be held in April and May. Polling will be held April 18, 23 and 27 and May 3, 7 and 10.

‘The people of West Bengal who are fed up with the misrule of the CPI-M-led Left Front will bring the new government of Maa, Mati, Manush and democracy in the state will be restored,’ said Banerjee.

Maa, Mati and Manush (mother, land and human beings) is a catchy slogan coined by Banerjee, who has called for unity of all secular and progressive forces against the Left Front.

Banerjee also hinted that an alliance with Congress will be formed sooner than later. Trinamool is the second largest partner in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre.

‘Everything will be all right and whatever is needed will be done soon as we have an alliance at the national level,’ said Banerjee answering a query about when discussions with the Congress regarding the alliance would begin.