Congress-Trinamool yet to finalise list
With the Congress and Trinamool Congress leaderships continuing to bargain over some Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, a seat-sharing arrangement between them is yet to be reached. That, in turn, has delayed the release of their respective candidate...
By Tamal Sengupta, ET Bureau |
KOLKATA: With the Congress and Trinamool Congress leaderships continuing to bargain over some Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, a seat-sharing arrangement between them is yet to be reached. That, in turn, has delayed the release of their respective candidate lists.
It���s the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat that has become the bone of contention as both parties have conflicting views on contesting it. While the Congress plans to field Mahua Moitra -- a high profile candidate with the blessings of Rahul Gandhi -- in Krishnanagar, the Trinamool Congress seemed scarcely interested in passing the seat to the Congress.
But a senior Trinamool Congress leader on Saturday did indicate that Mamata Banerjee might allow the Congress to contest the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat, especially with Congress���s plans to field Mahua Moitra. "Since Mamata is directly talking to the AICC leadership, she may eventually accept the Congress high command suggestion," he said.
Disputes over seat-sharing between the two opposition parties in West Bengal began after the Congress demanded extra seats. A possible seat- sharing formula recently doing the rounds was that Trinamool Congress would contest 28 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats while Congress would field candidates in the remaining 14. But matters came to a head after Congress demanded extra seats as in Alipurduar, Birbhum and Howrah.
It is learnt that the Trinamool Congress core committee will meet on Monday to clear up matter. Party circles said that Mamata is in constant touch with the AICC and is expected to release the candidate lists within two days.
Mamata maintains there is no uncertainty over seat-sharing between her party and the Congress in West Bengal. "If we are asked to release the list of our candidates, we can do so anytime. But we have some political compulsions," Mamata said, hinting she would hold on till the Congress came out with an acceptable seat-adjustment formula.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) president and external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee told Congress activists in Siliguri that the party intended to increase its seats in West Bengal.
"I can���t imagine a situation where grassroot workers of both parties team up that does not result in the Congress increasing its tally in West Bengal," Mr Mukherjee reportedly told a gathering of Congress activists in Siliguri on Saturday.
Mr Mukherjee���s observations made it clear that by striking an electoral alliance with the Trinamool Congress, his party actually intends to increase seats in this red bastion. Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Manas Bhunia also stressed that the intention behind forging an alliance with Mamata Banerjee was to increase the party���s votes tally in the state.
Interestingly, the Congress has six sitting MPs in West Bengal while Trinamool Congress has only one. A retired IPS officer Abani Mohan Joardar has joined Trinamool Congress on Saturday.
It���s the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat that has become the bone of contention as both parties have conflicting views on contesting it. While the Congress plans to field Mahua Moitra -- a high profile candidate with the blessings of Rahul Gandhi -- in Krishnanagar, the Trinamool Congress seemed scarcely interested in passing the seat to the Congress.
But a senior Trinamool Congress leader on Saturday did indicate that Mamata Banerjee might allow the Congress to contest the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat, especially with Congress���s plans to field Mahua Moitra. "Since Mamata is directly talking to the AICC leadership, she may eventually accept the Congress high command suggestion," he said.
Disputes over seat-sharing between the two opposition parties in West Bengal began after the Congress demanded extra seats. A possible seat- sharing formula recently doing the rounds was that Trinamool Congress would contest 28 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats while Congress would field candidates in the remaining 14. But matters came to a head after Congress demanded extra seats as in Alipurduar, Birbhum and Howrah.
It is learnt that the Trinamool Congress core committee will meet on Monday to clear up matter. Party circles said that Mamata is in constant touch with the AICC and is expected to release the candidate lists within two days.
Mamata maintains there is no uncertainty over seat-sharing between her party and the Congress in West Bengal. "If we are asked to release the list of our candidates, we can do so anytime. But we have some political compulsions," Mamata said, hinting she would hold on till the Congress came out with an acceptable seat-adjustment formula.
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Meanwhile, West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) president and external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee told Congress activists in Siliguri that the party intended to increase its seats in West Bengal.
"I can���t imagine a situation where grassroot workers of both parties team up that does not result in the Congress increasing its tally in West Bengal," Mr Mukherjee reportedly told a gathering of Congress activists in Siliguri on Saturday.
Mr Mukherjee���s observations made it clear that by striking an electoral alliance with the Trinamool Congress, his party actually intends to increase seats in this red bastion. Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Manas Bhunia also stressed that the intention behind forging an alliance with Mamata Banerjee was to increase the party���s votes tally in the state.
Interestingly, the Congress has six sitting MPs in West Bengal while Trinamool Congress has only one. A retired IPS officer Abani Mohan Joardar has joined Trinamool Congress on Saturday.
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