Trinamool eyes UP space at Congs expense

Trinamool Congress is attempting to make its presence felt in the UP Assembly elections,riding on likely support from disgruntled elements in the Congress,in the wake of recently strained relations between the allies in West Bengal.

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The Trinamool Congress is attempting to make its presence felt in the UP Assembly elections,riding on likely support from disgruntled elements in the Congress,in the wake of recently strained relations between the allies in West Bengal.

S P Singh,coordinator of the TMC election office for UP in Delhi,said the party was preparing for the UP elections. Our aim is a pan-India presence. We will participate in this election on a big scale and make an impact, Singh said. The party has inducted Ram Nihor Rakesh,former MP and a Dalit leader of the Congress,as its Electioneering Committee Chief in the state. Nihor said Trinamool was entering the fray with the 2014 general elections in mind.

Many Congressmen believe the Trinamool move is aimed at pressuring the Centre into sanctioning a special package for Bengal. Singh,however,rejected the allegation,saying: We do not believe in putting pressure,we have always raised issues of the people and we will continue doing so.

Nihor,who joined Trinamool last week,claimed the party would look at a possible alliance with Janata Dal (United) and Indian Justice Party (IJP),besides Bharatiya Samaj Party. We plan to contest 300 seats and the rest will be shared by other parties, said Nihor.

Congress sources here said it was possible that some party members denied tickets could cross over to Trinamool. The Congress has given tickets to new entrants from other parties and many long-time Congressmen feel let down.

Further,the cold war between UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi and Congress Legislative Party leader Pramod Tiwari has affected the party rank and file.

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Trinamool eyes UP space at Congs expense

Trinamool Congress is attempting to make its presence felt in the UP Assembly elections,riding on likely support from disgruntled elements in the Congress,in the wake of recently strained relations between the allies in West Bengal.

Trinamool eyes UP space at Congs expense