The CPI(M) today alleged that the Maoists were engaged in the "nefarious" game of helping the Trinamool Congress in its bid to oust the Left front Government in West Bengal.

"They (Maoists) are acting in collusion with the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. They are playing a very nefarious game of helping the Trinamool-Congress combine to try and oust the Left Front Government in West Bengal," CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters.

Stating that not a day passed without attacks on CPI(M) cadres and supporters, he claimed that in the last few months after the general elections, the Maoists had killed about 70 of the Left party's members and sympathisers.

"What are the Maoists hoping to gain by targeting CPI(M). A Maoist leader Koteshwara Rao says in a television interview that they want TMC chief Mamata Banerjee as the next Chief Minister of West Bengal. This collusion between the TMC and Maoists fully exposes the so-called revolutionary character and the movement of the Maoists," he said.

The CPI(M) leader alleged that the TMC and the Congress were trying to undo the gains of land reforms and decentralisation in Panchayats in West Bengal ushered in by the Left front government.

Stating that the Union government has been apprised of the fact that most of the Maoist activities in West Bengal were being organised from Jharkhand, he asked the Centre to seriously take up socio-economic development programmes in naxal-affected areas.

"Unless they (Centre) are able to control the situation in Jharkhand, this matter cannot be solved. We also need cooperation between states to solve and control this matter," he added.

The CPI(M) leader said the Maoists should not be treated as terrorist group like the LeT. "They move on the basis of certain ideology and politics and unless that ideology and politics is countered... And that is a political job which cannot be done by the government."

Karat said his party will continue to oppose the Maoists politically and ideologically. "We are not going to give up the fight and will continue to mobilise the people against the Maoists and their unholy combination with the TC."

Replying to a question about reverses in the recent assembly by-elections, Karat said, "yes we have not gained anything from the West Bengal elections and that is a fact."

"After the Parliament elections there have been areas where we have lost ground and we are working towards recovering that ground. It will take some time," he said.

Karat said the CPI(M) state committee had already worked out a programme for revamping the organisation and was conducting various campaigns amongst the people. Efforts were also on to improve the functioning of the government in different sectors.

"We have analysed the reasons why the people moved away from us. We have identified the reasons and the weaknesses and are taking necessary steps to overcome those," he said.

Responding to queries on China's stand on Arunachal Pradesh, Karat said the neighbour had a stand not only on the border state but also Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.

"There is an agreement between India and China that Dalai Lama and the Tibetan refugees here will not indulge in political activities," he said.

Suggesting that the two countries should work for resolving their border dispute, he said, "as far as Arunachal Pradesh is concerned it is part of India. It is better that both the countries pursue the mechanism for border dispute resolution in the interest of the two countries."