Unlikely to beat Mamata Banerjee , Congress plans to cut victory margin

NEW DELHI: Congress believes Trinamool Congress is strongly placed to win the West Bengal elections, contending that its own alliance with the Left bloc is aimed at limiting the extent of Mamata Banerjee’s victory which would help exercise control over her in future politics.

As it moves in to clinch a “tactical alliance” with the Left, Congress strategists say Mamata is likely to be CM again. It is based on the feedback of her strong control over rural voters and the continuing anger with the Left among a section. With a splintered opposition, she can score a landslide.

Sources said an informal pact with the Left would ensure consolidation of the anti-Trinamool votes under one banner and increase the strike rate of Congress and the Left. The shared hostility of Left and Congress workers with the TMC would ensure vote transfer and coordination at grassroots.

It is the simultaneous Kerala election, where Left and Congress are principal rivals, which is stopping them from a full embrace. Party sources said, Congress has to tie up with the Left to cobble together a coalition of “secular” forces at the Centre to take on the Modi government. In contrast, TMC, because of its state compulsions, has to maintain friendly relations with the Centre, and would be a less stable ally. Hoping that a joint front would increase their conversion rate and pare down Mamata’s eventual tally, party sources said the pact was being done with a long-term gameplan.

A TMC government with lesser majority in assembly would not get a free run as during the last five years. Besides, it would also check the TMC’s Rajya Sabha tally. It is a serious consideration since TMC is expected to be friendly to BJP which lacks numbers in the upper House and depends on allies to counter the “secular” pack which commands an outright majority.

It was the larger consideration of checking Mamata’s legislative muscle to hobble it in central politics which has nudged Congress to agree to a tie-up with the Left in Bengal.

The alliance is expected to make a case with Muslims that Congress and Left cannot ally with BJP. It is a significant chunk that has been wooed aggressively by Mamata but if the duo can make a dent, the results can be better than expected.