No secret understanding with Trinamool : Mukherjee

Kolkata, Mar 16 (UNI) Denying CPI(M)'s allegations, PCC president Pranab Mukherjee today said his party would not go for any 'covert' understanding with the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal elections in the absence of an official alliance.

'' There cannot be any underhand dealing or covert understanding.

Politics is an open game. It is our basic fundamental principle,'' he told reporters in reply to a question on the repeated allegations by CPI(M) leaders that both the opposition parties would opt for understanding at the local level.

While veteran leader Jyoti Basu was first to air the apprehension, CPI(M) State Secretary Anil Biswas and Left Front Committee Chairman Biman Bose also cautioned party workers against such a possibility.

Mr Mukherjee said on the basis of the AICC stand that there should be no truck with the BJP, the Congress could not afford to have even any secret understanding with Ms Mamata Banerjee's party, a partner of the BJP-led NDA.

'' I wanted to have either seat adjustment or alliance with the Trinamool. There was only one codition that it must not have the BJP as a partner, which has not been met. The basic issue is whether the Trinamool parts way with the BJP,'' he said.

The PCC president announced suspended Trinamool MLA Nayana Banerjee, Coucillor Mala Roy and former Councilor Dibyendu Biswas had joined Congress. Ms Banerjee is the wife of former Trinamool heavyweight Sudip Banerjee, who had defected to the Congress before the last Lok Sabha elections following differences with Ms Mamata Banerjee.

In reply to a question, Mr Mukherjee said the party might put up a candidate for the Rajay Sabha elections from West Bengal.

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