No pact, Trinamool 'B team' of BJP: Goa Congress

Goa Congress is not too enthused by the Nationalist Congress Party's offer to join hands with the All India Trinamool Congress to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party. Congress leaders said the move would end up benefiting the Trinamool and the party unit was not keen to have such an arrangement.

"The TMC is trying to compete with us directly for the anti-BJP votes, our campaign is that the TMC is a BJP's 'B Team' to divide the opposition votes. How can we go with an alliance with the TMC, asked a Congress leader from Goa. He added that the party may not be averse to an alliance with the NCP provided the latter recognises its actual strength, a reference to the NCP's lone MLA, Churchill Alemao, joining the TMC in December this year. The Congress is claiming that even the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is 'B Team' of the BJP. However, the party's anger is primarily reserved for the Trinamool Congress. "We are aware that an offer has been made; however if the central leadership accepts it is nothing less than a disaster for us. The TMC has deliberately poached several of our candidates and is contesting in our strongholds. Their campaign is that we are not strong enough to take on the BJP. If we join hands with them, we would be left with nothing," said the Congress leader.

Congress has also politely turned down the Shiv Sena offer for alliance, saying it's too late now.