The Hindu : National : Mamata sets terms for alliance with Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 14, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Mamata sets terms for alliance with Congress

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that her party can consider an alliance with the Congress only if it severs links with the CPI(M), which supports the Congress-led UPA at the Centre.

Ms. Banerjee has, thus, made it apparent that her options are open on a possible alliance with the Congress in West Bengal in its fight against the CPI(M) in future elections that could include an early mid-term Lok Sabha polls in the event of the Left withdrawing support to the Centre on the nuclear deal.

The panchayat elections in the State, scheduled for next year, also appear to be in the mind of the Trinamool leadership, which is as keen as the Congress to prevent a division in the anti-Left Front vote. Why should the UPA government continue to condone and protect the CPI (M) in West Bengal was a question reportedly asked by Ms. Banerjee to Prime Minister Manmmohan Singh at a meeting in New Delhi earlier this week, a senior Trinamool leader told The Hindu here.

“The BJP is not of any relevance in West Bengal and we have made it clear that at this moment our party is working on consolidating its strength. It is not a constituent of the Save Farmland, Lives and Livelihood Committee,” said Leader of the Opposition Partha Chatterjee.

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

National