Mamata counts future options as Left sings to Cong in retro parade

“The Congress leaders in Delhi have had a detailed talk with us on the issue of Left’s support. We hope that after the results are out the Congress will not take the support of the CPM. If it does,the alliance here with us will face a question mark,” said a senior Trinamool leader.

If the electorate throws up a situation similar to 2004 when CPM gave unconditional support to the Congress-led coalition,Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee will then certainly have to rework on the seat-sharing deal with the Congress,sources said.

According to party sources,Mamata may not take any hasty decision on snapping her ties with the Congress and will instead opt out of the Congress-led govenment. She may choose the CPM line of giving issue-based support to the Congress-led government from outside. “In such a case,Mamata will be an independent group and continue to provide support to the coalition on the basis of issues,” said a senior Trinamool leader.

She can also refrain from voting in favour or against the government to justify her independent character. She would,however,urge the Congress leadership to support her fight against the Marxists in Bengal. But this will depend on her party’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

“Once Mamata is able to win more than 10 seats,the Congress leadership will respect her plea to strengthen her fight against the CPM,” sources said.

For Mamata,the ideal situation will be a Congress-led coalition without Left.

Meanwhile,the BJP is also weighing its options and has assigned leader Jaswant Singh to renew old ties with Mamata.