Cong woos Mamata, eyes Kerala model to fight Left

The Congress will now try to woo Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee, who had earlier told her district leaders not to join hands with the Congress in the panchayat elections. But this will take place after the panchayat polls are over. The Congress has deputed Somen Mitra to hold talks with Banerjee.

“The Congress has not signed a bond (that stops it from forming a separate front against the CPM) while getting the Left’s support to the UPA government at the Centre,” Dasmunsi told party workers at a convention here.

“No alternative to the Left was possible without the Congress and Trinamool in this state,” he added.

Pinning his hope on the Kerala model where Congress-led UDF coalition and CPM-led LDF fight for power, Dasmunsi told his workers that if they are able to fight against the CPM in Kerala despite taking their support at the Centre, it could be successfully replicated in West Bengal too.

“In Kerala there is an alternative front which is not present here,” he said.

Today's party convention, organised by the Central Calcutta District Congress, also turned out to be an opportunity for Dasmunsi and Mitra to showcase the party’s unity. This was for the first time in one and half years that Dasmunsi and Mitra shared the dais, indicating that a new thaw has emerged between rival camps within the state unit of the Congress — one led by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the other by Dasmunsi.

Mitra echoed Dasmunsi’s contention and said that forming a secular front against the CPM is a necessity.

On asked about the proposed talks with Mamata, Mitra said, “I am hopeful of a positive result. Differences could be worked out through discussions.”

Meanwhile, Trinamool reacted cautiously on the Congress’ latest overtures.

Partha Chatterjee, Trinamool leader and leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, said that it was a decision of the Congress and the TMC was not concerned about their decision.