Cong finds it hard to bend Mamata?
The Congress is realising that Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is not DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi who could be pushed around. The Trinamul Congress wants an honourable share in the seats.
If the DMK is facing the incumbency in Tamil Nadu along with corruption cases against its leaders, Ms Mamata Banerjee is all set to make a history in West Bengal. There is a wave in her favour. She is the only star campaigner in the electoral battle being faught between the Trinamul and the Left Front, who occupied the space after the long struggle, viewed the state leaders.
Though the state Congress has staked claim on 98 Assembly seats, the Trinamul insiders feared the Congress would not find “winnable” candidates against the Left even if Ms Banarjee concedes the demand.
Interestingly, the talk of friendly fights is also gaining ground in the anti-Left front. This is because West Bengal voters are sharply divided between Trinamul and the Left front and thereby made two national parties — the Congress and the BJP — irrelevant, they viewed.
A senior leader of the non Left Front said on the condition of anonymity that the Trinamul Congress’ votes may not transfer to the Congress nominees if they are “weak”.
The Congress’ argument that Ms Banerjee can become a chief minister if the Trinamul Congress and the Congress fight the battle together, is not taken seriously in the Trinamul.
After Tamil Nadu, the Congress is gearing up for hard bargaining on seats with the Trinamul and this exercise is expected to continue for next three to four days. The Trinamul is expected to announce its candidates any time after March 13. A picture about mahajot (grand alliance) against the Left Front will clear in the coming days.
Senior AICC leaders are optimistic that the seat sharing issue with the Trinamul could be resolved amicably. Though the party has constituted a three-member team consisting of Mr Janardhan Poojari, Mr P.J. Kurian and AICC in—charge of the party affairs in West Bengal Dr Shakeel Ahmed, to hold discussions with the Trinamul about seats.
The BJP has decided to contest all 294 seats in the state in alliance with “influential” smaller parties, said state BJP general secretary Ashim Sarkar.
Some of the NDA and the UPA partners are also keen to fight the elections with a calculation that this could help them in opening their account in West Bengal.
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