Cong-Left alliance in the offing? People of Bengal want an alliance to oust TMC from state: CPM

Kolkata, Jan 25: Stating that the CPI(M) is trying to bring opposition parties under one umbrella to oust the TMC, party Politburo member Mohammed Salim today asked the Congress to come clean on the issue of alliance.

"We are trying to unite people from various sections including political parties to fight against the misrule of TMC. The people of Bengal, who love democracy, want this alliance," he said.

Without naming the Congress, Salim addressing a rally, said, "It can't happen that you will say something and do something else. It can't happen that you will go to Kalighat (TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's residence) and say something publicly. You have to come clean on what you want, on your stand. You have to respect the feeling of unity among masses."

Amid talks of a possible tie-up between Congress and CPI(M) in the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal, AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi has called the state Congress leadership to Delhi for a meeting on February 1.

Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra have sent out messages to the Congress from public meetings to join hands with the Left Front to oust Trinamool Congress from the state.

Reacting to Salim's comments, state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said his party would take a decision at an appropriate time and was not answerable to any other party.

"In the upcoming elections, TMC's aim is to return to power, CPI(M)'s aim is to regain lost ground and Congress's aim is to oust TMC. We are not answerable to anyone or any other party. We are only answerable to the masses. We will take our call at an appropriate time," Chowdhury said.

State Trinamool Congress general secretary Partha Chatterjee said both Congress and CPI(M) were trying to gain prominence in state politics by trying to forge an alliance, but people would give a befitting reply by rejecting them.

PTI