Trinamool, allies form front to take on Left

The Congress and the breakaway Trinamool faction of Subrata Mukherjee today formed a formal alliance to fight the Left Front in the coming Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections. Eight other parties joined the alliance as well.

Flanked by state PCC chief and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Congress leader Somen Mitra, Mayor Subrata Mukherjee attended the christening of the United Democratic Alliance today. Apart from the Mayor’s Paschim Banga Unnayan Mancha, other major constituents of the alliance include the NCP, SP, LJP, and Janata Dal(S).

The UDA, though, will not have a chairman for the time being. ‘‘The constituents will be deciding about the chairman of the front today,’’ Pranab Mukherjee said.

The UDA is expected to field candidates in all 141 seats in the KMC. ‘‘Somen Mitra and Subrata Mukherjee will be finalising the candidates’ list by May 17,’’ the Defence Minister said.