"We will continue with the alliance as long as the Trinamool Congress maintains its distance with both the Congress and the BJP," said Provash Ghosh, state secretary of the SUCI.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said that the alliance is a "turning point" in the West Bengal

politics and in spite of their ideological differences they have come together for a common cause.

"It does not matter what ideologies we believe in. We know that we work for the people and we have their support. Or else the people would not have elected us as the main Opposition party. Even SUCI had been vocal in protesting against the injustice unleashed by the Left Front, and particularly the state government," Mamata said.

The two parties will be jointly contesting the forthcoming panchayat elections in the state.

"We had been talking on these lines since a long time now. The Nandigram issue further brought the two parties together," said Ghosh.