“We are aware that there is no Congress-Trinamool alliance in the state. But, here in Burdwan district the case is different. Not only have we forged an unofficial seat-sharing alliance, we will also campaign jointly against the CPM,” said Himanshu Roy, working president of the district Congress. The people here want the alliance, he added.

Trinamool district working president Shyam Banerjee also confirmed the development.

“We had decided on the seat-sharing in Memari municipality much before talks broke down between the Trinamool and the Congress. On Mamata Banerjee’s directions, we have decided to go in for a people’s alliance,” said Banerjee, adding the joint campaign will be initiated shortly.

According to the seat-sharing formula, of the 16 seats in the Memari municipality, Trinamool will contest on 11 seats, while the Congress will field candidates on the remaining five.

Trinamool legislator and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Partho Chatterjee also explained the development in terms of a people’s alliance.

“Our leader (Mamata) has already said there will be a people’s alliance this time. There are many places where others (Congress) have left seats for us to fight the CPM directly. This is to avoid a division of the anti-Left vote,” said Chatterjee.

In Daihat municipality , too, the two parties have decided to field seven candidates each of the total 14 seats.