Kolkata, April 03:The Congress is yet to decide whether to join government in West Bengal in case the opposition alliance wins Assembly polls, and may support it from outside on the basis of a common minimum programme, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said.
The Congress is yet to decide whether to join the government,” he told reporters here.
There is also an option not to join the government and support it from outside. But regarding joining it in each state wherever we have seat adjustment or alliance, the Congress leadership has not taken any decision so far,” he said after releasing the party’s election manifesto.
Mr Mukherjee, who is also the senior most member of Congress Working Committee (CWC) was replying a question on the number of berths his party would like to demand in the event of opposition alliance snatching power.
Let’s first reach the bridge and then cross it,” he quipped.
Explaining why the Congress did not have a joint manifesto with the Trinamool Congress, Mr Mukherjee said the party’s seat adjustment was not at the national level for all those states going to Assembly polls, and it was only at state-level.
Nowhere we have allied with regional forces at national level. The rinamool Congress is fighting on its own elections in Assam as
it did in Arunachal Pradesh. In states like Kerala and Maharashtra
where we have alliances with local parties, we run the Governments
on the basis of a CMP,” he said.
AICC General Secretary in-charge of West Bengal Shakeel Ahmed, who was present at the programme, also said the next government in West Bengal would be formed on the basis of a CMP, without mentioning whether the Congress would be a part of it.
The Trinamool Congress is the second largest partner of the Congress-led ruling UPA at the Centre, which with its thin majority in Parliament, is dependant on Ms Mamata Banerjee, particularly through the scam-hit turbulent time when the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK), another major partner, pulled out of the government following former Telecom Minister A Raja’s arrest, extending suppot from outside.
The first UPA Government had enjoyed outside support from the Left parties for four-and-a-half years on the basis of a CMP. The CPI(M), CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP, however, withdrew support on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, alleging that it was an aberration of the CMP and a danger to the country’s security.
Though the issue of joining government still remained undecided, Mr Mukherjee exuded confidence that the opposition alliance would win, despite the claim of a ‘turnaround’ by the ruling Left.
The taste of the pudding is in its eating. Whether the Left Front is really turning around will be clear on May 13 when the results will be declared,” he said.
‘We are contesting the polls with the spirit of fighting the opponents, not enemies. We shall have to surpass all the obstacles,” he said.
Replying a question on ‘rebel’ candidates contesting in several seats against Congress-Trinamool nominees, particularly in Murshidabad and Malda districts, Mr Mukherjee said they would be expelled from the party for six years their nominations were not withdrawn by the last date.
In this regard, our party has a very clear rule. These members have to be expelled for six years. Similar action will be taken in West Bengal by the Pradesh Congress committee President, who will wait for the last date of withdrawal of nomination,” he said.
In reply to a question whether the Congress ‘surrendered’ to the Trinamool Congress by accepting only 65 seats in West Bengal, Mr Mukherjee said it was a ‘media coinage’.
That we have surrendered is the creation of the media. We go by whatever decision is reached after dialogues,” he said.
————–UNI———-