The results of the 10 assembly by-elections in West Bengal once again proved that the people wanted the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance and the ruling Left Front was losing popularity, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Kolkata on Wednesday.

“The anti-Left alliance led by Trinamool Congress was successful in the last Lok Sabha election, by-election and municipal poll. This election again proved that the CPI(M)-led LF is losing popularity and the people want the TC-Congress alliance,” he said.

Asked whether he felt that Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee should advance the assembly elections in the state, due in 2011, Mukherjee replied, “I’m not the chief minister. What he does will depend on his own decision.” Mukherjee, the WBPCC president, was talking to reporters at the Congress office after launch of the party’s membership drive.