TMC doesn't rule out alliance for Pb polls: Roy

Trinamool Congress (TMC) today didn't rule out "alliance with any political party" in poll-bound Punjab but said the party supremo will take a call in this regard when the elections are announced.
"In elections and politics, I am not ruling out to make any (seat) adjustment or alliance with any political party. When (Punjab) elections date will be announced, the party will take a call on seat adjustment or alliance," Mukul Roy, all India vice president of TMC said here today.
"Options are open, we have not ruled out for any type of seat alliance and seat adjustment with any political party," he further said.

He was responding to a question whether there was any possibility of alliance with or seat adjustment with AAP for Punjab polls.
When asked whether there could be any alliance with Congress, Roy said, "I cannot rule out."
When pointed out that former Congress leader Jagmeet Brar, who has been appointed as chief of Punjab unit of TMC, had vociferously spoken against Congress, Roy said, "In politics what will happen, nobody can say right now. I do not rule any option at this juncture. As and when elections are announced then, Mamata Banerjee will take a call," he said.

However, Brar, who was sitting along with the senior TMC leader, preferred an alliance with AAP for Punjab polls which are due early next year.

"After the elections are announced and if Arvind Kejriwal directly approaches Mamata Banerjee and holds meeting on this issue, then election can be fought under alliance. This matter is now between Kejriwal and Mamata ji," he said.
Notably, former Congress leader and ex-MP Jagmeet Singh Brar had extended "unconditional" support to AAP in Punjab after forming an "issue-based alliance" with the party in September this year.
However, Brar further said that if there was no alliance with AAP, then Punjab polls could be fought under the banner of All India TMC.
Brar, however lashed out at Congress and Akali Dal, saying both parties had contributed a lot in "ruining" the state.

Brar, who openly criticised Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh, claimed that the state unit of Congress would witness revolt after the announcement of ticket for upcoming Assembly polls.
Roy, however, said at present, demonetisation was a larger issue against which the party had been holding protests and demonstrations, saying that it had adversely-affected poor, farmers and other sections of the society.
He said on demonetisation issue, political parties including CPI(M), AAP and Congress were fighting together.
TMC today announced the setting up of office for the Punjab unit of the party here. Brar has been appointed as the state unit chief of TMC.

Roy further said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would visit Punjab in January next year.