TC, BJP have worked out 'some sort of arrangement': CPI-M

Says, "the affair between TC and BJP has been made clear by Narendra Modi candidate who asked people to support Trinamool in Bengal"

CPI(M) today alleged that Trinamool Congress (TC) has worked out "some sort of an arrangement" with BJP as has been "made clear" by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at a recent rally in Kolkata.

"The affair between TC and BJP has been made clear by the BJP's prime ministerial candidate who asked people to support Trinamool in Bengal and vote for him at the Centre. It is clear statement that BJP wants some sort of an arrangement with them," senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.

"And with no reaction coming from TC or its chief (Mamata Banerjee) on Modi's statement, their motive is abundantly clear," he told reporters here.

Banerjee, who left the BJP-led NDA in 2001, had returned to its fold during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee "soon after the 2002 Gujarat carnage. They had no qualms about the pogrom which happened just before they rejoined the NDA. So it is perfectly legitimate that they (TC and BJP) have worked out some sort of an arrangement", Yechury said.

To questions on the 11 Left and secular parties coming together ahead of the general elections, he said these parties would arrive at agreements on seat adjustments and other forms of cooperation at the state-level.

However, an alternative government would finally materialise only after the elections, just like the Janata Party in 1977, V P Singh's government in 1989, United Front in 1996, the NDA in 1998 and 1999 or the UPA in 2004, he said.

"All these governments were formed after the elections. It will not be different this time also. People are voting for an alternative to both Congress and BJP as they want relief with their living conditions becoming unbearable," Yechury said.

When asked why only Trinamool is to be blamed as some among the 11 parties which have now got together had earlier been with BJP, he said, "These parties have today taken a position (that they are not with BJP), but TC has not yet taken such a stand."

The CPI(M) leader also blamed Congress for the continued disruption of Parliament proceedings, especially on Telangana, saying the ruling party has to bring its house in order and take a clear stand on the issue so that the two Houses were not disrupted.