Mamata keeps alliance option alive for Lok Sabha

Says TMC will get railway ministry back

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, today indicated that her party, Trinamool Congress, may go either way-- be it Congress-led UPA or BJP-led NDA post Lok Sabha poll --  to get back the railway ministry.

“Let me assure you, Trinamool Congress will get back the Railway Ministry after next Lok Sabha election,” Mamata Banerjee  said addressing the party workers at Netjai Indoor stadium here. He comment came in the context of Centrre's “negligence” to ongoing railway projects in the state.

“We will be back in the railway ministry. All these projects will be taken care of,” she added.

Stating that TMC will get back the railway ministry, political experts believe, Banerjee virtually sent out a message to both UPA and NDA that the party might use the rail ministry as a trade-off for its support to one of the two alliances after Lok Sabha election scheduled 2014.  According to Banerjee, however, Lok Sabha election will take place within three moths from now. “Soon after state Panchyat election in May, I think Loka Sabha poll will take place,” she noted.

Although, even during today's speech, Banerjee dealt at length about Centre's “anti-people policies”, TMC insiders did not rule out the possibility alignment with Congress in future.  

As the recent by-election result, in which Left bagged one of the three seats, was indicative of the fact that both TMC and Congress may suffer in electoral battle if they fights the elections on their own. Congress had won all the three seats in 2011 when it had TMC's support, but this time Congress, TMC and Left bagged one each.  “This is a proven fact, an alliance with Congress would always help,” said senior TMC leader.

Incidentally, following a by-poll results when TMC general secretary Mukul Roy was asked about a possibilty of renewing its alliance with Congress in upcoming election, he could not rule out the possibility. “TMC can do well in any election on its own. But we can not comment what would happen in future,” Roy said.However, state Congress leadership, had ruled out any such possibility then. “We should not repeat the mistake of again forming an alliance with TMC,” state Congress president Pardip Bhattacharya said. But, there is always possibility, if the numbers does not match, Congress High Command can always think other way.

BJP, on the other hand, has sent out olive branch to TMC on several occasion in recent times. Its leadership has said o several occasion that it would like get back its former ally under NDA fold.