Trinamool, BJP have tacit understanding: Bengal opposition

Campaigning for the crucial Lok Sabha by-poll from Howrah, the Left Front and Congress Friday accused the Trinamool Congress of having a tacit understanding with the BJP with an eye to the next general elections.

"It has become clear that the Trinamool is going to ally with the BJP," Left Front chairman Biman Bose said on the last day of campaigning for the June 2 bypoll.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Surjya Kanta Mishra also spoke of an "understanding between the BJP and the Trinamool" and said the voters would have the final say.

Congress leader and Union Minister of State for Urban Development Deepa Dasmunsi repeated the same charge.

"There is a clear indication that Trinamool is having a tacit understanding with the BJP and it will support it in the next Lok Sabha elections," said Dasmunsi.

With the Trinamool and the Congress snapping ties at the central and state levels, both parties have put up candidates for the seat. While the Trinamool has nominated former international footballer Prasun Banerjee, the Congress has given the ticket to advocate Sanatan Mukherjee. The Left Front has fielded the CPI-M's Srideep Bhattacharya.

The election to the Lok Sabha from the constituency was necessitated by the death of Trinamool MP Ambica Banerjee April 25.

Despite announcing its candidate for the June 2 bypoll, the BJP later withdrew from the election.