Mamata hints at `grand alliance’ to fight CPI-M

Banerjee, who on Thursday admitted the two leaders of Forward Bloc, a partner of the Left Front, into her party fold, also indicated that she was not averse to having an alliance with the Marxist dissidents who floated a separate `mancha’ to oppose the CPI-M. “We will decide about it later at an appropriate time”.

The Trinamool Congress leader also made it clear that their alliance with BJP would continue.

To a question she said that Trinamool Congress’ tie-up with BJP would not pose any problem for the leftists who were willing to join hand with her. In the past, CPI-M had joined hand with BJP to defeat Rajiv Gandhi, she pointed out.

Chairman of the Trinamool Congress policy-making body Pankaj Banerjee categorically stated that his party would forge a `grand alliance’ to defeat the CPI-M-led front in the next year’s Assembly election.

Clearly having in mind the dissidents within the ruling front, the TC policy-making body chairman said that the State would witness a new polarisation in the political front. “Internal struggle within CPI-M has started on the issue of corruption,” he said.

Even as speculation was rife in the political circle about state transport minister and CPI-M leader Subhas Chakraborty and PWD Minister Kshiti Goswami of RSP might close ranks with her, Banerjee, when asked replied, “They sent me feelers for the State’s development”.

The two ministers repeatedly praised the railway Ministerfor the initiative taken for the speedy development of the state.

Political observers say that many dissidents leftistsmight find it difficult to join trinamool Congress, an ally of BJP, but might not be averse to joining the alliance.