Cracks widen in BJP as it allies with Trinamool

Sikder, who is also the Union Minister of State for Small-scale Industries, said the alliance with Trinamul chief Mamata Banerjee should be on respectable terms. ‘‘Mamata has now understood that she has nowhere to go and will have to come to the BJP for survival,’’ he said.

Sikder, who has led the state BJP for 10 years, no longer calls the shots. His marginalisation was complete when his men were chucked out of the new BJP committee and he had to open a new office here.

Roy, along with his office-bearers, today met Mamata at her residence and held the first round of talks. Later, addressing a joint press conference, the leaders said they would take up a joint agitational programme till next year’s Lok Sabha elections with a view to oust the CPI(M).

For the first time, both parties will have a common manifesto and a joint campaign for the Panchayat polls, they said.

The Trinamul chief said the tie-up with BJP will not be limited to the ensuing Panchayat elections but will continue for subsequent elections, including next year’s Lok Sabha poll.

‘‘We will work with a common minimum programme and will have seat adjustments for the Panchayat elections,’’ Mamata said. ‘‘For all this, more discussions and talks will follow,’’ she added.

Mamata will attend a BJP rally in Kolkata on April 17 as part of the Panchayat poll campaign. Defence Minister George Fernandes and BJP president Venkiah Naidu will also participate in the rally.

Making it clear that BJP’s Hindutva agenda will not come in the way of the alliance, Mamata said: ‘‘Our priority is to fight the Marxists and those helping them.’’