Friday, Apr 26, 2024 | Last Update : 10:02 PM IST
Congress leans towards poll tieup with TMC
At a time when the CPI(M) is keen to strike a pre-poll alliance with the Congress, the latter is considering the option of joining hands with the Trinamul Congress (TMC) for the forthcoming Assembly p
At a time when the CPI(M) is keen to strike a pre-poll alliance with the Congress, the latter is considering the option of joining hands with the Trinamul Congress (TMC) for the forthcoming Assembly polls in West Bengal. Reports emanating from the state indicate that covert parleys between the Congress and the TMC could take off shortly.
The CPI(M) on Saturday asked the Congress to consider striking a pre-poll alliance with the Left. The BJP, despite its hue and cry, has so far failed to strike a chord in Bengal.
Addressing a rally in Singur, former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee exhorted the Congress and other Left parties to join hands with the CPI(M) to take on the TMC in the forthcoming polls. “We want the Congress and other Left parties to join hands with us to oust the TMC government,” he said.
Congress strategists are still testing the waters and are not in a hurry to commit to the CPI(M). Sources revealed that the Congress was “more keen” to join hands with the TMC rather than the CPI(M). For the Congress, a truck with Ms Banerjee could be electorally more beneficial. Congress spin doctors are of the opinion that the Left parties are not only in disarray, but the CPI(M) has not yet been able to regain lost ground after its rout in the last Assembly polls.
Congress leaders are of the view that the TMC could be more “useful” to it at the national level than the CPI(M) during the 2019 LS polls. A Congress leader pointed out that nationally, the Aam Aadmi Party has moved into the Left’s space. As of now, however, the Congress is keeping all options open.
The BJP, desperate to make its presence felt, is now trying to make the Malda violence its main poll plank. Other parties are accusing it of playing the “communal card” in the state. It may be recalled that the BJP was planning a rally in Malda on January 18 but was forced to shift the venue to Dinajpur after the state government refused permission.
There are reports that three more BJP rallies are slated in the state, to be addressed by Union home minister Rajnath Singh, HRD minister Smriti Irani and party chief Amit Shah.
