Mamata indicates end of alliance with Congress in Bengal

Kolkata, July 21 (IANS) In a clear indication that the Trinamool Congress would not ally with the Congress in the coming panchayat polls in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday said Trinamool was capable of going it alone in the state as it has the majority to run the government.

"We are capable of going it alone in the state. We are self-sufficient. We are not dependent on anybody. We will fight alone in Bengal. We don't survive on anybody's mercy. This is our own struggle. We have the majority to run the government," said the Trinamool chief while addressing a public rally here.

However, she categorically said her party's alliance with the Congress at the centre - where the two are partners in the United Progressive Alliance government - would remain "so long we are treated with respect and dignity".

Although the Congress and Trinamool have an alliance in the state and at the centre, they have often locked horns over various issues from presidential elections, Lokpal bill, foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail and other.

The state Congress leadership, on the other hand, has time and again attacked the Trinamool-led state government over its alleged failure to contain violence and tackle other issues.

"There are some state Congress leaders, who sit in the studios of various CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) backed television channels and give lectures criticising our government. As if we are running the government at their mercy. No, they should know they are here because of us. Their (state Congress) only job is to abuse us," said Banerjee.

Recently the relationship between the alliance partners in the state hit an all-time low after Banerjee decided to oppose the ruling United progressive Alliance's presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee. An infuriated Congress leadership went on an all-out attack terming her as anti-Bengali.

Although Banerjee later changed her stance and supported Mukherjee, the gulf between the two parties has only widened.

Earlier, on many occasions the Trinamool leadership had termed the state Congress as the B-team of the CPI-M, which heads the state's opposition Left Front, and alleged that the Congress was working covertly with the Marxists to sabotage various developmental works across the state.