Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday didn't rule out “alliance with any political party” in poll-bound Punjab making it clear that the final decision would be taken by the party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
“In elections and politics, I am not ruling out to make any (seat) adjustment or alliance with any political party…When (Punjab) elections date will be announced, the party will take a call on seat adjustment or alliance,” said TMC’s all India vice-president Mukul Roy, accompanied by former Congress MP and TMC’s Punjab unit head Jagmeet Brar.
“The state unit led by Jagmeet Brar has been asked to submit its assessment of the ground situation in Punjab and the final decision will be taken after the consent of Mamataji. As of now, all options are open for the party and our aim to be part of a clean and honestGovernment in Punjab that will also be a part of our all India initiative,” he said.
Roy, responding to a media query whether there was any possibility of alliance with or seat adjustment with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for Punjab polls, said that the “options are open, we have not ruled out for any type of seat alliance and seat adjustment with any political party”. When asked whether there could be any alliance with the Congress, Roy said: “I cannot rule out.”
Even as Brar had vociferously spoken against the Congress, Roy clarified, “In politics what will happen, nobody can say right now. I do not rule any option at this juncture. As and when elections are announced, Mamata Banerjee will take a call.”
However, Brar preferred an alliance with AAP for Punjab polls which are due early next year. “After the elections are announced and if Arvind Kejriwal directly approaches Mamata Banerjee and holds meeting on this issue, then election can be fought under alliance. This matter is now between Kejriwal and Mamata ji," he said.
Notably, ex-MP Jagmeet Singh Brar had extended “unconditional” support to AAP in Punjab after forming an “issue-based alliance” with the party in September this year. However, Brar further said that if there was no alliance with AAP, then Punjab polls could be fought under the banner of All India TMC.
lashing out at the Congress and Akali Dal, Brar said that both parties had contributed a lot in “ruining” the state. “My main aim is to stop Akalis and Captain…Akalis have looted Punjab and Capt has supported them in every way, and that is why I left the Congress,” he said.
He added, “There are good people in every party and if they are given a chance to save Punjab, all our options are open. The final decision will be made by Mamata ji of course.”
Brar, who openly criticised Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh, claimed that the state unit of Congress would witness revolt after the announcement of ticket for upcoming Assembly polls.
Regarding main issues the TMC would be focussing on, Brar said that in Punjab, “it would be drug eradication, farming crisis, unemployment and revival of industry
along with a big focus on education, health services and rights for women and backward sections”.
He also announced that the TMC will hold protests across the State to highlight the problems faced by farmers and small traders after the failed demonetisation scheme of the NDA. TMC on Tuesday announced the setting up of office for the Punjab unit of the party at Chandigarh which was inaugurated by Roy who announced that in the coming days, TMC will be opening offices in every district of Punjab and appointing office bearers.
Roy added that Mamata Banerjee would visit Punjab in January next year.