The last time the Congress had tied up with the Trinamool Congress was in the 2001 West Bengal assembly elections. However, the party was humiliated. The two parties have again joined hands for the coming general elections. This time, the success of the alliance depends on the sincerity and dignity of the partners, Manas Bhuiyan, leader of the West Bengal unit of Congress Legislative Party, tells Saubhadro Chatterji.
For four and a half years, your party ran the UPA government with the help of the CPI(M)-led Left forces. Now what has prompted you to join hands with the CPI(M)’s arch rival, Mamata Banerjee?
The West Bengal unit of the Congress has called on supporters of the party to confront the CPI(M)-led Left Front with a secular, democratic force as an alternative. The Congress will play a pivotal role against the autocratic CPI(M) that has ruined West Bengal.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has asked us to go ahead with this plan. We are very receptive yet sensitive on this issue and are willing to ally with anyone who is like-minded.
We have to combat two kinds of terrorism in Bengal—the communal terrorism of the BJP and the Left’s political terrorism.
Though you had tied up with the Trinamool Congress in the 2001 assembly elections, you couldn’t damage the Left impact. What makes you so hopeful this time?
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) tenure damaged us politically. But we are hopeful that another combination can be forged this time — however, only if partners have a broad mind, an open heart.
How many seats do you expect to win if the alliance takes place?
It depends on the seat-sharing formula and the number of seats the two parties get. It will also depend on the congenial atmosphere as well as sincerity and dignity of the partners.
The past few election results have shown that the Congress’ strength is restricted in north Bengal, while the Trinamool rules in south Bengal. Is this going to be the basis for seat adjustment?
I don’t consider my state as being limited to north or south Bengal. For us, West Bengal means the entire state. The Trinamool can win 9 seats because of a division in the Congress. In the 2001 assembly elections, the Congress contested 59 seats as part of the alliance, whereas the Trinamool fought 237 seats out of the 294 assembly seats.
We won 26 out of 59, while Trinamool won only 60 out of its 237 seats. That was dangerous for us. We had to deny the claim of 16 sitting MLAs from our party. But since 2001, we have gained a lot of ground in south Bengal.
In Coach Bihar and Jalpaiguri in north Bengal, Mamata’s party is the main opposition. But in Birbhum and Purulia, we occupy 60 per cent opposition space, while Trinamool has only 40 per cent.
In Nadia and Burdwan it’s 50:50. I don’t accept that the Congress is non-existent in south Bengal. In 2001, we were humiliated. But many stuck with the party and carried its flag. The Congress should take care of their aspirations now.
