Mamata rebuffs Cong on joint rally offer

“I had requested Mamata Banerjee to hold a joint rally but she did not respond,” said Manas Bhuniya,chief of the Pradesh Congress Committee. “If she wants to save the lives and property of the people,I still expect that we can rally against violence jointly.”

Sources in the Trinamool said Mamata has interpreted Bhuniya’s offer differently ¿ she feels the Congress is trying to use her mass support for its political gain.

“The Congress wanted to use Trinamool in North Bengal to ensure their victory,” said Partho Chatterjee,the Leader of the Opposition. “In fact,we are facing violence in Kolkata and other South Bengal districts. If the Congress has the courage to hold a joint rally,let it be in Lalgarh,where state sponsored violence is evident for past two years or more. But the Union Home Minister should address the rally along with Mamata Banerjee.”

The rift had come to the fore after Mamata’s statement that she was ready to go it alone in the upcoming Assembly election.

“Our aim is to oust the CPM from power. We cannot shoulder the responsibility if the Trinamool chief feels the she will go alone in the next elections,” said Bhuinya. “If they contest the election on their own,it will not be possible for any of us to beat the CPM separately.”

Both parties have started rejuvenating their organisation. While the Trinamool has planned for several agitation programmes,the Congress has called the meeting of the executive committee where all district chiefs have been asked to attend.

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be present at the meeting,to be held on on January 2,where the district chiefs will submit reports on their experience of working with the Trinamool over the last two years.