Blow to Left Front as FB MLA joins Trinamool Cong

The dissident MLA said that he had met Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on November 22 and had talks with her about various issues including his joining her party. “Along with me, another MLA and a former MLA are also ready to join her party,” he said.Pankaj Banerjee, MLA and chairman of the Trinamool’s policy making body had confirmed this.

“Not only Das, threeother Forward Bloc MLAs and two RSP MLAs who are willing to switch over to our party had talks with us,” Banerjee told this reporter.

“In fact several CPI(M) members including a few important functionaries of them who are secretaries of a few district committees of the party have got in touch with us,” he said.

The Trinamool leader also said that his party would try to build a grand alliance, a la the National Democratic Alliance ruling the Centre, together with the BJP and the breakaway Left Front MLAs and supporters.

If this materialises this will pose a serious challenge to the Left Front before the Assembly elections due 2001.

Das said that they were unhappy at the tardy development of North Bengal. “The United Front Ministry in West Bengal in 1967 chalked out a master plan for an all-round development of the region. But even after 32 years nothing tangible had happened.”

Das, suspended from the party about a month and half back, said he was very impressed with the life style and image ofMamata Banerjee. “She is a true leader of the people whereas the leftists have become thoroughly corrupt,” he said.