Thanking the people of West Bengal for giving a decisive victory to her party, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said on Friday that she was humbled by the their faith in her, and promised "good governance" in the state.
"This is a victory for maa, mati, manush (mother, earth, people). I am grateful to the people of Bengal," she said.
"This is a verdict against years of exploitation, agony and oppression."
Mamata - who broke away from Congress to establish the All India Trinamool Congress in 1998 with a sole aim of taking on the might of the CPI (M) - said Friday's "unprecedented, historic verdict" had been made possible by the people of West Bengal, and she dedicated the victory to them.
By noon, the Trinamool Congress and its allies appeared set to win about four-fifth of the 294 seats in the assembly.
The historic verdict ends 34 years of Left rule in the state -- a world record for an elected communist government.
Mamata said the results were also a victory for the people of the hills, of Jangalmahal and "all those who have been tortured all these years".
{{/usCountry}}Mamata said the results were also a victory for the people of the hills, of Jangalmahal and "all those who have been tortured all these years".
{{/usCountry}}Jangalmahal is the forested tract of southwest Bengal which has come to be a Maoist stronghold amid persistent neglect by the government. Similary, the hills of north Bengal have been in turmoil because of a festering conflict between authorities and separatist groups.
The Left's "autocracy" would now be replaced by democracy in West Bengal, Mamata said.
"We will establish the rule of law, governance and democracy for everybody."
Mamata also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for their support.
"They called to congratulate me and the people of Bengal."