TMC has secret tie up with BJP, claims state Congress chief

West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra Wednesday claimed that the Trinamool Congress has a secret understanding with the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sends him sweets and kurtas every year only re-affirms this.

In an interview to actor Akshay Kumar aired by TV channels, the prime minister had mentioned her gifts to him. Banerjee, however, said it is Bengal's culture to welcome guests with sweets and gifts.

"There is a secret relationship between Banerjee and Modi. After the Gujarat riots, only Banerjee had sent him roses," Mitra said replying to a question at a meet-the-press programme organised by the Press Club Kolkata.

CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra also said Modi's comment has revealed the secret ties between the TMC and the BJP.

"The cat is now out of the bag," he said.

Hitting out at Banerjee, the TMC supremo, Mitra made her responsible for the spread of the BJP in West Bengal.

It is because of Trinamool Congress and not due to the weakening of either the Congress or the Left Front parties that the saffron party is gaining ground in the state, he said at a meet-the-press here.

Banerjee, the Congress leader said, has not announced whether the TMC will lend support if there is a coalition headed by the BJP at the Centre after the polls.

Asked to comment on the possibility of the BJP getting the second highest number of seats after the TMC in Bengal, Mitra said "It is due to Mamata's party that BJP is rising in Bengal."