Mamata dismisses any alliance with either BJP or Congress

Kolkata, Jun 2 (UNI) Ruling out any alliance with the Congress or the BJP, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today made it clear that her party would keep equi-distance from both the parties.

'' There is no question of any alliance with the BJP and Congress and we will maintain equi-distance from both the parties. There was no alliance with the Congress at the grassroot level in the just concluded Panchayat elections, '' Ms Banerjee told newspersons here.

'' I have good personal relation with veteran Congress leader Somen Mitra. What Mr Mitra has said was his personal view. I can say with utmost confidence that no alliance had been worked out at the grassroot level with the Congress in East Midnapore and South 24-Parganas districts in the Panchayat elections, '' she stated.

She also demanded reintroduction of manual voting system like ballot papers and ballot boxes when the state goes to polls in 13 civic bodies before Parliament electiosn by the year-end or early next year.

To a query about alliance in future, she said, '' It will be decided by the people and if there is no alliance, it will be people's alliance. '' UNI AKM SJC SP PM2114