WB Congress Calls For Alliance With CPI(M), Other “Secular Forces”

Ahead of the Assembly polls, WB Congress calls for alliance with CPI(M), other secular forces in the state.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (Photo: Reuters)

The Congress party formally called the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and all other democratic and secular parties to form an alliance in West Bengal on Sunday.

On behalf of Pradesh Congress Committee, I am inviting all democratic and secular forces in Bengal to join together in order to preserve democratic values and establish the rule of law in West Bengal. 

<b>Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, West Bengal Congress Chief in a Statement</b>

State Congress spokesperson and general secretary Om Prakash Mishra, the call was to unite all the secular anti-Bharatiya Janata Party and anti-Trinamool Congress forces, along with the CPI(M).

We want a people’s alliance. We want an anti-BJP and anti-Trinmool secular democratic alliance. Of course, we want the CPI(M) and other Left Front partners in this alliance. We also want the Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal and other forces which want to defeat the Trinamool Congress and rally together against the communal politics of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

<b>Om Prakash Mishra, West Bengal Congress General Secretary</b>

After the initial hint at an alliance, Chie fMinister Mamata Banerjee had dared the congress and CPI(M) alliance to be formed.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (Photo: Reuters)

Also read: Mamata Banerjee Dares Congress, CPI(M) to Declare Alliance

Gandhis’ Consent to Left-Congress Allaince

Mishra said Chowdhury made the formal announcement in agreement with the national party leadership.

However, Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay claimed that party president Sonia Gandhi was not aware of any such alliance.

TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay. (Photo: IANS)

I had a talk with (Congress president) Sonia Gandhi where I asked her about the progress on the alliance front. Instead, she asked me whether any such alliance was happening. In fact, she told me that no intimation has reached her about any such alliance.&nbsp;

<b>Sudip Bandyopadhyay, TMC MP</b>

Bandyopadhyay concluded that no such alliance will be formed. This claim of Bandyopadhyay was termed as laughable by Mishra.

I don’t think anything needs to be said on Bandyopadhyay’s claims. It is laughable. We are committed towards our commitment to forge an alliance with the Left front.&nbsp;

<b>Om Prakash Mishra, West Bengal Congress General Secretary</b>

The decision of alliance took root on 11 February at the Left Front meeting. All constituents had agreed upon an alliance only after and if Congress proposed it.

ON 18 February, CP(M) central committee sought co-operation from all the democratic forces to defeat the TMC in the coming Assembly polls.

West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu will go to poll in the months of April and May.

(With agency inputs)