We need Mamata, Bengal Cong tells Sonia

“This is the need of the hour. The sentiments of the people of West Bengal are to get rid of the tyranny of the CPI(M),” chimed in Mitra.

What neither leader was prepared to say was whether the “grand alliance” would include the BJP or not. “This is a matter of discussion. The mechanism can be worked out,” said Mitra.

It is clear, however, that state compulsions are gradually overwhelming the Congress, forcing Sonia to factor an element of realpolitik into her decisions. The immediate fallout of the present crisis in the West Bengal unit is that Sonia is likely to let Mitra and Chaudhary off the hook for conspiring to defeat the official party nominee in the recent Rajya Sabha polls in favour of the Trinamool-backed Independent candidate, Jayant Bhattacharya.

In fact, Chaudhary said at the press conference that to his “utter surprise”, he found Sonia “very reasonable and very kind” at their meeting this morning. Chaudhary and Mitra had met the Congress president to explain the reasons for the party’s humiliation in the Rajya Sabha elections.

Having forgiven the duo, Sonia now faces the dilemma of deciding on their demand for a tie-up with Mamata Banerjee in next year’s Assembly elections in West Bengal. While Sonia may be in favour of such a tie-up, she cannot agree as long as the Trinamool Congress is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The decision for the Assembly tie-up need not be taken immediately of course but the Chaudhary-Mitra faction is putting pressure on Sonia to make a beginning with an informal understanding with the Trinamool-BJP alliance in next month’s civic and panchayat polls in the State.

In fact, the two dissident leaders are to meet Sonia and Ambika Soni (the general secretary incharge of West Bengal) for a second round of discussions tomorrow on this.

As a face-saver, the Congress may agree to a loose understanding at the local level, without involving the State unit, for the civic elections. It would also test the waters for next year’s Assembly polls.

It is significant that Mitra today sought to draw a distinction between the Left Front and the CPI(M) by stressing that the latter was the main enemy in West Bengal. This indicates an attempt to cobble together a broadbased alliance of parties opposed to the CPI(M)’s domination.