TMC vows to be equidistant from BJP, Cong; CPI-M doubts

Trinamool Congress today vowed to maintain equidistance from Congress and BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls, but CPI-M cast doubts on the statement, saying the "power-hungry" ruling party would go with BJP post-poll.
TMC MP Saugata Roy said, "Trinamool Congress will maintain equidistance from BJP and Congress. The common man's basic demand is 'roti-kapda-makan'. Neither BJP nor Congress can provide it to the common man."
Roy described Congress and BJP as two sides of the same coin and said in the next Lok Sabha poll people would vote for a viable alternative.
"It has already happened in the Delhi Assembly poll. We feel that the prospect of a third alternative is very bright in the next general election," he said.

CPI-M politburo member and former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, however, sought to pick hole in the TMC's assertion, saying the party would side with BJP in the post-poll situation and that is why it had not yet made its stand clear on Narendra Modi.
Regarding his party's stand, Bhattacharjee said, "At no given scenario, we will go with Congress or BJP. It will be better if we sit in opposition benches and oppose anti-people policies. We are not power-hungry like Trinamool, for us it is a fight for ideology and values."

Attacking Roy's statement that TMC would play a vital role, Bhattacharjee said TMC could only play a vital role in government formation at the Centre either by siding with BJP or Congress.

Roy also mocked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's promise to provide more subsidised LPG cylinders, saying Gandhi's statement came after losing Assembly polls in four states.
Roy said when TMC had suggested increase in the number of subsidised LPG cylinders, Congress did not heed.