Congress to back Trinamool in a hung KMC

In a bid to mend fences with its estranged ally,the state Congress today said it is ready to support the Trinamool Congress in forming the Board in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation if Mamata Banerjee’s party falls short of the majority figure of 71 seats in the 141-ward civic body.

“Just because there was no alliance before the polls does not necessarily mean we will not support a political party to wrest the KMC from the CPM in case of a hung House,” state Congress working president Pradip Bhattacharjee said at a press conference held at party headquarters Bidhan Bhawan.

He claimed the Congress would increase its 2005 tally in the KMC polls for which would be held on May 30. The seat-sharing talks between allies Congress and the Trinamool had broken down after the former demanded 50 seats in the KMC,which Mamata Banerjee’s party refused.

Bhattacharjee also said municipal polls should not be seen as “semi-final” as many are calling it. “The municipal elections are very local in nature. These may not show the road ahead,” he said.