While the Left Front government and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TC) are at loggerheads over the issue of land acquisition for the Tata Motors’ small car project at Singur in West Bengal, the Congress seems to be struggling to take a stand on the issue.
Sonia Gandhi’s party in the state says it wants investments, but is yet come out in support of the project. In trying to keep its potential ally, the Trinamool Congress — which is opposing the land acquisition — happy, the party finds itself between two stools.
Manas Bhuian, the leader of the Congress in the Assembly, says, “The government should announce a better relief package and look into the demand of the opposition for returning the surplus land to the people. And the TC should also not stick to something that is not feasible.”
Although the central leadership of the Congress would like to see the project in Singur go ahead undisturbed, local leaders are treading cautiously keeping in mind a possible tie-up with the Trinamool Congress.
The recent local elections in the state strengthened the Trinamool Congress’ position and the Congress is hoping a tie-up will improve its tally in the Lok Sabha elections. Without the tie up, the Congress might not be able to retain even its existing seats, say political observers.
The Congress’ stand, however, holds no ground as Banerjee wants nothing less than the return of the surplus land, a proposal that has been rejected by the Left.
The Left-led government is also not in a position to offer a better relief package as most people whose land has been acquired have already been paid.
