We will not join Vajpayee government, says Mamata

CALCUTTA, April 12: Trinamool Congress will not join the Vajpayee government even after the likely expansion of the Union cabinet next month...

CALCUTTA, April 12: Trinamool Congress will not join the Vajpayee government even after the likely expansion of the Union cabinet next month, said party leader Mamata Banerjee.

"We have already made our stand clear that we will not join the Vajpayee government, but extend all support to it from outside," Banerjee told newsmen here.

Asked about tomorrow’s Trinamool Congress-BJP meeting here to prepare ground for seat-sharing for panchayat polls in the state, she ruled out possibility of releasing any joint manifesto. "Their (BJP’s) line is different from ours," she said, but hoped the talks would be successful.

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Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress chairman Pankaj Banerjee expressed hope that BJP would join the "save Bengal front" to further strengthen the anti-CPI(M) platform and gear up for the ensuing three-tier panchayat elections.

Exuding confidence that tomorrow’s talks with BJP would succeed to prevent division of anti-CPI(M) votes in the panchayat elections, Banerjee said that he would holddiscussions with all other eight front constituents tomorrow. Tomorrow’s Trinamool-BJP talks is considered significant in view of "contradictory statements" issued by some state BJP leaders questioning viability of joining the Front.

The Trinamool Congress chairman said he would apprise all the eight Front partners "our (Trinamool Congress’) relation with the BJP and possible seat adjustments with it for the panchayat polls". The Front was formed by the Trinamool Congress before the Lok Sabha elections, with constituents including Samata Party, Lokshakti and Muslim League.

He said tomorrow’s discussions with BJP would determine "our policy" during the panchayat polls, seat-sharing formula, campaigns and other election-related issues.