Later, at a rally at the circus ground, she declared she would allow a fortnight to other anti-CPM parties in the state to join them in the fight for dislodging the CPM from power.

She said if the Bihar model of polling was adopted in the Bengal elections, the ruling CPM, which had been in power since 1977, could be defeated.

She indicated she was ready to share seats with the Congress if it severed its ties with the CPM.

Effigies of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee were burnt at several places by TMC workers and supporters.

Today's march, which was organised by Mamata's newly formed West Bengal Democratic Front, started the beginning of their long-drawn agitation and the election campaign against the Left Front government.

The procession began around 2 pm from the Esplanade area. It passed through Chowringhee, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Park treet, Acharyya Jagadish Bose Road areas and ended at the circus ground around 5 pm.

About one lakh persons participated in the procession. They were carrying festoons and placards denouncing the CPM's misusing of power and the police and the government's bowing down to the captalists and other vested interests.

Several hundred poor peasants, who came from the remote districts, carrying with them ploughs, sickles, bows and arrows, also took part in the procession.

Almost all senior leaders of the TMC and other partners of the newly formed front, including the BJP, the PDS, the CPI(M-L), the RJD, the NCP and the Samajwadi Party, participated in the stir.