“There is no development on the issue. We had had talks two months ago. Everything was quiet until the recent development (Pranab Mukherjee siding up with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee). We are prepared to work alone and moreover, we already have some small parties, including Leftists, with us,” Banerjee said at a press conference at her Kalighat residence. “We too do not want the anti-CPM votes to be split in Bengal. But people should have good intentions,” she added.

Regarding rumours of the Trinamool leaving 12 seats for the Congress, she said, “That was long ago. Two months ago.” “We will work, we will fight, we will die. And then give them all the seats,” she added sarcastically.

The Trinamool chief also shot down media reports about her party tying up with the BJP. “Just the other day, somebody wrote I have tied up with the BJP. The question does not arise. The BJP has announced its candidates... we are not with them. People are also writing that seat-sharing is on with the Congress. But all this is false. If there are talks about an alliance, we will let you know.”

“There are a lots of ifs and buts before any alliance. This is a high political question now,” she added.

Taking on the state CPM government, Banerjee said it’s on a spree to inaugurating projects but none of these would materialise. “None of the projects will take off. They do not have the money. They are just hoodwinking the people,” she said.

In a separate programme at her residence, she provided monetary help to 30 families from Singur, Nandigram and Lalgarh who were affected in the violence.