After having established a workable chemistry with the Central Government, Mamata Banerjee has made a curious move to neutralise the Congress by offering talks with its MlAs on “crucial issues.”
The Bengal Chief Minister is willing to hear their grievances, said a senior Trinamool Congress leader and a State Minister. The claim was confirmed by Md Shohrab, a senior Congress man and party’s leader in the Assembly.
He said the Chief Minister was willing to hold talks with the Congress MlAs on May 20 on all contentious issues. “The Congress had for long been protesting against the failing law and order situation, electoral violence, attacks on its workers and MlAs and leveling false charges against us,” the Congress legislator said adding “all issues would be raised in the talks.”
The Congress and Trinamool Congress had together contested the 2011 Assembly elections trouncing the left Front for the first time in 34 years. However, the alliance broke as the Congress complained against the Chief Minister’s dictatorial style of functioning. Since then that party had been sitting in the Opposition.
On whether Banerjee’s gesture towards the Congress could herald a new era for alliance, Shohrab said “nothing should be read into the talks. We as an Opposition outfit have our grievances and want them to be addressed” adding elections were still a good eleven months away.
Experts said Banerjee’s “show of gesture” towards the Congress was an attempt to preempt any consolidation in the Opposition ranks. “She is aware of the setbacks her party suffered in north Bengal during the civic elections. This was on account of a joint resistance from the Opposition parties against organised attack by the Trinamool mercenaries,” said SP Bose political analyst. “In south Bengal, the Trinamool could win with flying colours because there was no joint resistance.”
Apprehensive that the Election Commission could act tough during the Assembly elections, the Chief Minister is trying to win back the Congress. “She also wants to preempt a Congress-left understanding by building a bridge before they do” Bose said.