The latest remarks by senior CPM leaders in which they have expressed their willingness to help Congress form the next government at the Centre in the event of BJP being able to cobble up an alliance, has made the Trinamool wary.

Trinamool leaders are now busy chalking out strategies and the possible course of their future action post May 16 when parties’ standings will be clear. According to senior Trinamool leaders, chances of their alliance with the Congress surviving till 2010 Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections are bleak if Congress seeks Left’s support to form the next government in Delhi.

“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.

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