After going on a confrontation course by organising street protests against Mamata Banerjee government over the renaming of Indira Bhavan and denial of support price for paddy to the farmers, the Congress is desperately seeking conciliation with the Trinamul Congress. AICC secretary and incharge of Bengal Shakil Ahmed, who arrived in the city on Thursday, has embarked on a fire-fighting exercise. “The Congress and the Trinamul Congress leaders have made certain statements against each other which are not good for the alliance. My advice is that the two sides should sit across the table and resolve their differences amicably,” he said, adding that Ms Banerjee should immediately hold talks with state Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya.
The Congress climbdown has apparently been prompted by the Trinamul Congress’ refusal to give the ally even an inch. Ms Banerjee has rejected their demand to set up an Indira Gandhi Institute instead of a Nazrul Academy at the Indira Bhavan. Moreover, Trinamul Congress leaders such as Firhad Hakim, Partha Chatterjee and Madan Mitra have repeatedly declared that Congress needed the Trinamul Congress’ support to remain in power at the Centre but the Trinamul Congress can rule the state without the Congress support.
Surprisingly, even Congress minister in Mamata Cabinet — Manas Bhunia who had made a passionate speech at Congress rally on Wednesday — also said that the two allies should immediately sink their differences through friendly dialogue.
Unlike the Congress, the Trinamul Congress continued to spew venom against the ally.
State urban development minister Firhad Hakim repeated his warning that if Trinamul Congress withdrew support, the UPA government would lose the majority and consequently the state Congress leaders would have no place to go. He also flayed the Congress for creating road blockades over Raiganj College issue. “When chief minister Mamata Banerjee has given a call to shun the politics of bandhs and disruptions, unfortunately our friends have tried to derail state’s development by blocking roads and disrupting traffic. We will not allow it any more,” he added.