Other States - West Bengal   

West Bengal Congress announces alliance

Special Correspondent

Eight parties join UDA, Trinamool Congress not part of alliance

KOLKATA: The West Bengal Congress on Sunday formed an alliance, United Democratic Alliance (UDA). It comprises eight political parties.

Elections are to be held in the State in five phases spread over from April 17 to May 8.

The UDA candidates will be finalised by the Congress high command on April 17 and 18, Defence Minister and president of the Pradesh Congress Committee Pranab Mukherjee said. "We have launched the UDA on the lines of the United Progressive Alliance at the Centre and will fight the coming elections jointly."

He had earlier said the Congress would contest the majority of the seats. The constituents of the alliance would contest on a common minimum programme, but would have separate manifestoes. Among the constituents of the alliance are the Party for Democratic Socialism, a breakaway group of the CPI (M), the Lok Jan Shakti Party and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The seat adjustment between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP would be finalised within "two or three days," after BJP leader Arun Jaitley holds final talks with Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee, senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

West Bengal Congress announces alliance

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu