Sending a loud and clear message to the Trinamool that the Congress holds the key to power in West Bengal post 2011 Assembly polls, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today blamed the sharp dip in his party’s fortunes in the state to the 1998 split when Mamata Banerjee broke away to float her own party but said the two must not waste the “golden opportunity” to drive away the Left with someone’s “historic blunder”.

Speaking at the two-day “Chintan Shibir” of the state Congress that began today at Krishnagar in Nadia district, about 100 km from Kolkata, the minister did some hard talk, telling allies in that no political outfit could come to power in the state without the help from the Congress.

The Congress veteran, however, said all stakeholders in the political alliance that has seriously dented the Left in all recent polls should behave responsibly.

“The last big rift we experienced in Bengal was in 1998. Bengal’s popular leader Mamata Banerjee left the Congress and formed Trinamool. It can be said we failed to recuperate from the loss,” Mukherjee said. “Unlike splits in ‘69 or ‘78, workers and supporters left the Congress in the state in 1998. After 11 years, we have not been able to bring them back. This is our failure.”

“Though Congress’s strength has been reduced because of the 1998 split, its importance as an Opposition party has not entirely diminished. It is very true that without the Congress support, no Opposition party can come to power in the state. This has been proved in the Lok Sabha elections,” the minister added.

Alluding to run-ins with ally Trinamool, Mukherjee said, “If ultimately the endeavour named coalition just becomes the rule of one party, there will be controversies and clashes. After a long time, we have the golden opportunity to drive away the Left. We do not want to waste it with somebody’s historic blunder.”

In yet another toughly-worded message, the senior Congressman said his was a national party that was not ready to be a parasite to a regional outfit. “The Congress is a national party which functions on the basis of its programmes and policies. We can’t be a satellite to any regional party. People in the districts of Malda and Murshidabad still consider the Congress as the principal Opposition party as they have been constantly supporting the Congress since 1977,” said Mukherjee, adding “election mathematics is the ultimate key to decide election results”.

K Keshab Rao, AICC in-charge of Bengal, also said his party’s alliance partner should show appreciation of the sacrifices the Congress is making in the state.