No alternative to Mamata’s grand alliance — Ghani

CALCUTTA, APRIL 7: West Bengal Congress president A B A Ghani Khan Chaudhary on Friday said that there is no alternative to the grand alli...

CALCUTTA, APRIL 7: West Bengal Congress president A B A Ghani Khan Chaudhary on Friday said that there is no alternative to the grand alliance proposed by Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee to oust the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front in the coming Assembly polls.

Chaudhary, who returned here from Delhi after talks with the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, and the Trinamool Congress leader told newsmen that he was very much in favour of forging the alliance with the Congress as a partner under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership.

Asked for his comment on Banerjee’s statement that she would be happy if he became the chief minister, the veteran leader said, "I am grateful to Mamata. But I do not want to make further comment on it. Time is not ripe to dwell on the issue."

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Claiming that the AICC president had asked him to go ahead in forging the "mahajot", he said that Banerjee had earned the credibility in her consistent anti-CPM tirade in the State which "we (Congress) failed to achieve".

On persistent queries whether he would go ahead with the "mahajot" even if the BJP was taken into it, the WBPCC chief said, "We will have further talks with Banerjee in this regard. We had no talks with the BJP and there will be no such possibility in future."

Chaudhary said that utmost efforts were being made to make the grand alliance a reality before the next month’s civic body poll.

WBPCC vice-president Saugata Roy, who also returned here after having talks with the party high command, said it would be difficult for the Congress to participate in such an alliance if the BJP was taken as a partner.

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Roy, stated to be close to the WBPCC working president and CPP chief whip in the Lok Sabha Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said that the high command had also made it clear that the Congress would not have any alliance directly or indirectly with the BJP.

He said, "We are, however, happy that Banerjee has suggested WBPCC president’s name for CM’s post."

The state BJP also underlined the need for such "mahajot" and said that the party wanted the unity of all anti-left forces which included Congress as well.

State BJP president Ashim Ghose said the party’s central leadership also stated that the immediate task is to oust the CPM-led front.