Kolkata, Dec 08: A daY after Congress veteran and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the alliance with the Trinamool Congress will continue in the state despite reservations of his party’s state leaders, Mamata Banerjee today responded in kind, saying the alliance is necessary to drive the Left Front out.
“The alliance with the Congress is necessary to drive the Left Front out of Bengal. The alliance will continue and we will drive out the Left,” she said.
“I also want the Centre to seize the huge stockpile of arms and ammunition in Bengal,” Banerjee said.
Party sources said the Trinamool chief was visibly disturbed after a majority of Congress leaders criticised her personally and her party at their two-day “Chintan Shibir” at Krishnagar in Nadia.
However, the Krishnagar Declaration published by the Congress at the end of the meet made it clear that to keep the BJP and CPM at bay, the alliance will continue and be further strengthened.
“It was unfortunate that one after another, Congress leaders attacked us and our leader in the conference. We did not take the message lightly. However, later the official declaration made it clear they too want the alliance to continue. They have realised this is the only way to drive out the CPM from Bengal,” said a senior Trinamool leader.
“The Congress should understand it alone has no chance of coming to power in Bengal. If we are divided, the CPM will have the edge and win. And we will lose the chance of driving them out of power after so many years of misrule,” he added.
Banerjee also spoke of providing support to the workers in the state. Interestingly, construction workers under CPM’s trade wing CITU has called a strike tomorrow demanding better working conditions.
“We do not support the strike. But we are with the workers of Bengal. We think there is a lot to be done towards their benefit. They should get provident fund and gratuity. I have asked Dinesh Trivedi, Union minister of state for health, to look into the problems of workers here,” said Banerjee.
–Agencies