With the State leadership of the Congress having already expressed its reservations about continuing in the Trinamool Congress-led government in West Bengal, leaders of the two parties continued to trade charges against each other here on Sunday. Congress MP from Berhampore Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had “fled from New Delhi” after her failed negotiations for her nominee for the Presidential post.
During the day, the State's Minister for Urban Development Firhad Hakim lashed out at Mr. Chowdhury, describing him as “a criminal” who regularly has to “flee from the police.”
In an oblique reference to the fact that the Trinamool's support is essential for the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre while the party has the numbers on its own in the West Bengal Assembly, Mr. Hakim said: “We are not looking at Delhi, Delhi is looking at us.”
Mr. Chowdhury said that it was obvious that the Trinamool Congress' support was needed for the government at the Centre, but “the party does not need the Congress support in West Bengal.”
