No TMC-Anna alliance in near term: Saugata Roy

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Lok Sabha MP (Member of Parliament) Saugata Roy on Monday confirmed an end to a much hyped joint venture for the time being between TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and anti graft crusader Anna Hazare ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

"As of now, our leader Mamata Banerjee has already called off the scheduled rally jointly with Anna in Ahmedabad which was supposed to be held on March 20th. To my knowledge, there is no further joint programme to be held with Anna. Hence, we are going ahead with fighting from as many constituencies as possible on our own," Roy said.

The brief bonhomie between anti graft crusader Anna Hazare and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee soon vanished off into thin air, after, Hazare had skipped the rally attended by Mamata at Ramlila Grounds. Hazare, later on justified his absence from the rally, saying that he was misled.

Hazare also declared that he endorses Mamata Banerjee as the best chief minister, but

will no longer support TMC in its national ambitions and therefore, asked the party not to use his name during its electioneering to attract votes.