Mamata outfoxes Cong,names 228 candidates

“I have waited for 18 days since the talks started just because I am in favour of the alliance. Had there been no time limit,I would have waited till eternity — but a lot of paperwork is involved. If it was possible,I would have waited till the counting day on May 13. But we have certain limitations and,so,after waiting for a long time,I am announcing our list at the nick of time,” said Banerjee.

“The TMC is a very disciplined party and our list of 294 candidates has been ready for a long time. This list has the names of 228 candidates only. If the Congress does not come to ground level,then we will declare the names of 64 more candidates on Monday. With that,the number of minority community and women candidates from TMC will rise to 64 and 45 respectively,” said Mamata. The Trinamool’s list announced today has 42 candidates from the minority community and 34 women so far.

The Congress,on its part,said it would discuss the issue and decide whether to contest 64 seats or more. “The announcement of seats by Mamata is unilateral. We will discuss in the Congress and then decide whether to contest 64 or more seats,” said Shakil Ahmed,AICC member and the party’s observer for West Bengal.

While saying that the party is still open to discussion,Ahmed added that the Congress would have to contest all 294 seats if there was alliance. “There is enough time,the first day of nominations for the first phase is March 24 and the last day for the first phase is March 31,” he said.

Last night,sources in both the parties had said that they had agreed on the 228-64 formula,and were just waiting for the Congress high command’s approval.

But today’s unilateral announcement gave ammunition to a section of Congress leaders opposed to the alliance. “It is a humiliating and unilateral decision. Nothing would have gone wrong if she had waited,” said Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury,Congress MP from Murshidabad.