Pranab blames Mamata for grand alliance failure (Changing headline)

Kolkata, Apr 19 (UNI) West Bengal Pradesh Congress President Pranab Mukherjee today said there was nothing wrong in the division among the opposition parties in a multi-party system and he was ready to accept responsibility for the failure of an attempted grand alliance with Mamata Banejree's Trinamool Congress in the state.

''It is an off-the-cuff remark that all opposition parties should unite to oust the Left Front Government. If this theory has to be accepted the Cogress should enter into separate alliances in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh against Nitish Kumar, the BJP and the Telugu Desham Party. Then where does the Congress stand and what is need for so many parties,'' he said while addressing questions at a meet-the-press programme here.

Mr Mukherjee said democracy in the country was based on a multi-party system and there were six national and 29 recognised regional parties. There was nothing stipulated in the constitution that all the opposition should be united against the ruling party or coalition. ''If that has to be done there should be only two parties,'' he said.

Putting the blame on Ms.Mamata Banerjee for the failed effort for a grand alliance, the PCC chief said he had requested the Trinamool supremo to sever ties with the National Democratic Alliance with an overture for leading a secular and non-left coalition against the Left which did not happen.

''I only strictly adhered to our party line that there should be no truck with the BJP directly or indirectly...if one asks me I am gladly prepared to accept the responsibility for the alliance not becoming a reality,'' he said.

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