'There is state-sponsored terrorism in several parts of the state. The voice of opposition has been suppressed. Life and properties of SC/ST (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) and minorities are at stake,' Bandyopadhyay, the chief whip of Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha, told IANS.

Acharia said the Left parties would oppose any move by the central government to invoke Article 355 in the areas hit by Maoist violence.

'The law and order situation is a state subject. We will oppose any move to invoke Article 355,' Acharia told IANS on phone from his constituency Bankura in West Bengal.

Trinamool Congress chief and Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee has been pressurising the government to invoke Article 355 in Maoist affected areas. She has also asked the central government to take over law and order and development in the Maoist violence affected regions in the country.

Forward Bloc national secretary G. Devarajan called Mamata Banerjee's move as 'politically motivated' and said it would lead to the collapse of the federal structure of the country.

He said the Trinamool Congress leadership were openly hand in glove with the Maoists.

'Chattradhar Mahato, leader of the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities in Lalgargh, was a former leader of the Trinamool Congress. He is enjoying the support of both the Maoists and Trinamool Congress,' Devarajan alleged.

He also urged the Trinamool Congress to end the patronage it was giving to the Maoists.