Trinamool, Congress seat adjustment opens new chapter in WB

Kolkata, Sep 19 (UNI) Claiming that the Bengal byelections marked the beginning of a U-turn in state politics, the Congress today said the seat adjustment with the Trinamool Congress opened a new chapter for a greater Opposition alliance.

''The people of Bengal are expecting an anti-communal platform which we have been able to form before the September 16 bypolls. The Congress will now strive for a full fledged alliance with the Trinamool Congress,'' Pradesh Congress Committee Working President Pradip Bhattacharjee told newspersons here.

He said the defeat or loss in the election is not a factor but our main strategy was seat adjustment with the Trinamool Congress to respect people's expectation.

''We think a strong opposition party is the need of the state. The opposition will get more importance from the ruling party for any future movement against the government's anti-people decision if a strong opposition is in place,'' he added.

''We also believe that this unification of opposition parties will not stop here and it will progress more and the party will take more initiative in this regard,'' Mr Bhattacharjee said.

He also said that the U-turn in the byelection was proved by the win of A H Khan Chowdhury, brother of former MP A B A Ghani Khan Chowdhury, who has done considerable development in Malda.

''We are congratulating the Bongaon and Malda people for casting the votes, which resulted in the win,'' he said.

UNI AKM SJC/MSJ PM2125