CPM, Congress Meet Late Night To Iron Out Alliance Creases In Bengal

Kolkata: The Left and the Congress edged closer to an electoral understanding with top leaders of both sides meeting till late tonight at the office of the CPM-run newspaper, Ganashakti, which is just about 200 feet away from the CPM's party headquarter in Kolkata.

"We want to make sure there is a one to one fight to rid Bengal of Trinamool," said Surya Kanta Mishra, CPM state secretary and Politburo member. "Both sides want (an) alliance to work out. The talks were positive," said Congress leader Somen Mitra. Among others present at the meeting were lawmaker Pradip Bhattacharya and Abdul Mannan from the Congress and Rabin Deb of the CPM.

The two-hour meeting began around 8 pm, hours after Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee attacked the attempts at an alliance, accusing the Congress and the Left of abandoning principles. "When I quit Congress, I said the Congress flag was being sold to CPM. That has proved correct now," she said, adding, "Some of them used to believe in Gandhi-ism, Marxism, Leninism. Now all isms are out. Only selfish-ism is in."

Ms Banerjee said she would go to Kerala and tell voters about the Congress-CPM 'duplicity'. "They are fighting in Kerala and friends in Bengal. My brothers and sisters in Kerala must know about it," she said.  
The Congress hit back. Mr Bhattacharya said, "Our people are fighting with our flag. It is not being sold. She knows her situation is bad so she is saying such things. Kerala and Bengal are different."

Congress chief Adhir Chowdhury said, "Trinamool is trying to break the alliance by introducing Trojan horses."  He was referring to the 16 seats that some Left parties are refusing to adjust on.

"There is no earthquake in the alliance, only surface tension," Mr Chowdhury said. Mr Mishra said, "In case of disputes, someone will step aside to ensure anti-Trinamool votes are not split."