Congress looks out for Trinamool alliance in West Bengal
Acknowledging Trinamool Congress as the principal opposition party in West Bengal, the state Congress leadership, on Saturday, launched an exercise to forge an alliance with Mamata Banerjee.
By ET Bureau |
KOLKATA: Acknowledging Trinamool Congress as the principal opposition party in West Bengal, the state Congress leadership, on Saturday, launched an exercise to forge an alliance with Mamata Banerjee. However, it said that Mamata would have to hold out an assurance that she will not go for any post-poll patch-up with the BJP-led NDA.
The co-ordination committee of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) held a 45-minute meeting under the leadership of WBPCC president and external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and AICC leader Mohsina Kidwai. The party officially announced after the meeting that they had initiated a process for forging an electoral alliance with Trinamool Congress.
"The chance of an alliance with Trinamool Congress is 70/30. We have already kicked off the process for striking an electoral tie-up with Trinamool Congress," said a senior WBPCC leader.
Meanwhile, WBPCC working president Pradip Bhattacharjee said discussions with Trinamool Congress leadership were on. He also said that the minutes of Saturday's meeting would be given to the AICC leadership in Delhi. "We want the alliance with Trinamool Congress should be on honourable terms and that Trinamool Congress would maintain it's secular character by not forging any post-poll adjustment with the BJP-led NDA," said Mr Bhattacharjee.
Mr Bhattacharjee also dwelt on his party's decision to withdraw the candidate at Bishnupur West Assembly segment in favour of Trinamool Congress, saying "this is our positive gesture towards striking an alliance with Trinamool Congress."
Interestingly, Mamata Banerjee, who also expressed her desire to fight the CPIM by keeping the Congress on her side, made it clear that she would not wait indefinitely for the Congress to decide on the issue. Congress circles said that Saturday's meeting is significant as the issue of an alliance was discussed in presence of two senior AICC leaders like Mr Mukherjee and Ms Kidwai.
The co-ordination committee of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) held a 45-minute meeting under the leadership of WBPCC president and external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and AICC leader Mohsina Kidwai. The party officially announced after the meeting that they had initiated a process for forging an electoral alliance with Trinamool Congress.
"The chance of an alliance with Trinamool Congress is 70/30. We have already kicked off the process for striking an electoral tie-up with Trinamool Congress," said a senior WBPCC leader.
Meanwhile, WBPCC working president Pradip Bhattacharjee said discussions with Trinamool Congress leadership were on. He also said that the minutes of Saturday's meeting would be given to the AICC leadership in Delhi. "We want the alliance with Trinamool Congress should be on honourable terms and that Trinamool Congress would maintain it's secular character by not forging any post-poll adjustment with the BJP-led NDA," said Mr Bhattacharjee.
Mr Bhattacharjee also dwelt on his party's decision to withdraw the candidate at Bishnupur West Assembly segment in favour of Trinamool Congress, saying "this is our positive gesture towards striking an alliance with Trinamool Congress."
Interestingly, Mamata Banerjee, who also expressed her desire to fight the CPIM by keeping the Congress on her side, made it clear that she would not wait indefinitely for the Congress to decide on the issue. Congress circles said that Saturday's meeting is significant as the issue of an alliance was discussed in presence of two senior AICC leaders like Mr Mukherjee and Ms Kidwai.
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