While strongly underscoring that an opposition alliance would not affect ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Bengal’s forthcoming Assembly election in any way, the party chairperson and the Chief Minister came down heavily against her emerging new rivals in the State - the Left-Congress alliance.
On Friday, while releasing the first and final list of candidates, Ms Banerjee reiterated that the alliance is introducing “unethical” politics in the States where Communist Party of India (CPI-M) is a force, West Bengal and Kerala.
She stated that she would tour Kerala, besides Bengal, to expose the “lack of morality” of Congress and the Communists in Bengal.
Congress and the Left Front have entered into an “informal seat sharing” arrangement in Bengal, the leaders have said.
“I willl certainly go to Kerala to expose the CPI-M and the Congress and their unethical alliance in Bengal…because I want to give a message to people of Kerala about the lack of morality of the two parties,” Ms Banerjee said. She further argued that the CPI-M and the Congress entered into “a joint venture” thus turning “Kerala election into a farce.”
“Is there a need to hold elections in Kerala? No. The CPI-M and the Congress can equally divide the seats among themselves,” she said.
Both the Congress and the Left were indicating for last several months that they are forging a loose and informal alliance in Bengal. Earlier this week the senior leaders of both the parties told The Hindu that they are not fielding candidates against each other. However, all along, Ms Banerjee maintained that such an alliance would not affect the TMC in any way. But on Friday she pulled no punches to criticise the alliance.
If they are in an alliance in Bengal, what is the rationale for fighting the elections against each other in Kerala? If elections are not held in Kerala, the Election Commission would save money, and the people would not have been harassed…Congress and CPI-M can enter into a joint venture in Kerala,” she said.
Both the opposition parties - CPI-M and the Congress - are elated with this unexpected attack.
The leaders are of the view that Ms Banerjee is getting increasingly “unsure” about the results in parts of Bengal as they have entered into “a seat sharing agreement.”
The alliance would have a direct advantage in more than 100 out of 294 seats, provided transference of nearly the entire vote takes place in seats with a consensus candidate. However, they are also worried about the infamous ‘dummy’ candidates. “TMC may pick up few of Congress’ local leaders with some base in particular areas and put him up as a dummy candidate. They may affect us but marginally,” a CPI-M leader on North 24 Paraganas said.
Later, speaking to a Bengali television channel, 24 Ghanta, Ms Banerjee said that the Left-Congress union would not affect TMC “in any way.”
A section of Ms Banerjee’s associates, however, are apprehensive about her Kerala campaign.
“Election is in a month’s time and we are not sure if she would have time to visit Kerala for a day to expose the CPI-M as we have no base there,” said one of Ms Banerjee’s aides.
“Alliance is introducing ‘unethical’ politics in the States where (CPI-M) is a force”
