Trinamool-Cong alliance gets Manmohan boost

In Howrah,Singh will urge people to vote for Trinamool’s four candidates from the area — Ambika Banerjee (Howrah),Sultan Ahmed (Uluberia),Kalyan Banerjee (Serampore) and Sudip Bandopadhyay (Kolkata North).

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee will also be accompanying Singh at the rally to be held at Dumurjola Sports Complex in Howrah.

Interestingly,Maulana Noor-ur-Rehman Barkati,the Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan mosque,will also be present at the rally. According to political observers,the Imam is being roped in keeping in mind 40 per cent Muslim voters among 12 lakh voters in Uluberia.

Singh is the first senior Congress leader who will campaign for Trinamool candidates. Earlier on April 24,Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi campaigned in Purulia,Bankura,Malda North and Jalpaiguri — at all these places Congress candidates were in fray. Similarly,on April 27,Sonia Gandhi campaigned for Congress candidates at Jangipur,Malda South and Raigunj.

On May 2,when Rahul will be visiting Behrampore and Domkol in Murshidabad,he will again campaign for Congress candidates.

The Trinamool leadership seems to be quite enthused with the prime minister exhorting voters to support their candidates.

“It’s a great morale booster for us. We are thankful to the prime minister for taking the pains to come to Howrah for seeking votes for our candidates,” Mukul Roy,Trinamool Congress general secretary,told The Indian Express.

The Congress also expressed happiness over Singh’s visit. “Both we and the Trinamool Congress are fighting together and the Prime Minister’s visit will strengthen the alliance,” said Manas Bhuniya,Congress Legislature Party leader.