BJP hopeful of `successful’ talks with Trinamool

CALCUTTA, MAY 3: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hopeful that its proposed talks this weekend with the Trinamool Congress to finalise...

CALCUTTA, MAY 3: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hopeful that its proposed talks this weekend with the Trinamool Congress to finalise seat-sharing arrangements and decisions on poll-related issues would be successful.

“We hope there will be no contentious issue and the two allies will be able to work hand-in-hand to fight the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls jointly to emerge as the largest political force in the Left-ruled West Bengal”, BJP’s State unit general secretary Rahul Sinha said.

Sinha said the parties’ leaders would sit across the table for the first time before the ensuing mid-term polls with the BJP’s State unit chief Tapan Sikdar returning from the party’s national executive on May 5. “We had some problems on seat adjustment during last year’s elections, but this time, the situation has changed and our friendship has been strengthened”, he said.

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Stating that he had “informal” discussions with the State Trinamool Congress leadership on the proposed meeting, Sinha said the BJP wouldlike both Sikdar and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to hold talks to chalk out poll strategies.

He said the meeting, considered crucial given the State’s political situation, would also finalise the mode of joint campaigns, rallies and meetings.