Without Cong help, TMC can't win 42 seats in Bengal: Adhir

They (TMC) have the right to dream. But it is impossible to win all 42 seats in Bengal without the help of Congress," Congress MP from the state Adhir Choudhury, a known detractor of Mamata, told reporters here.

Terming TMC's stand as "political inconsistency", he said "earlier they said that we are with the Left that is why TMC is opposing Pranab Mukherjee's candidature in Presidential elections. But later on, TMC also supported Pranab Mukherjee. This is political inconsistency."

TMC leader Sudip Bandopadhaya had said yesterday that the party is planning to win all 42 seats in West Bengal. "We want to see that under Mamata Banerjee's leadership 42 MPs remain in our command," Bandopadhaya had said.

Congress MP Deepa Dasmunshi, another known critic of Mamata, said that "for Congress only, they are in power at the Centre and also in Bengal. TMC would not be able to score anything without the help of Congress."

Asked to comment on TMC's decision to go it alone in panchayat elections, she said "if they want to fight alone, they can do so. We are holding a meeting on panchayat election issue on August 11 to decide our stand."

She said it was her (Mamata) decision to align with Congress for the Lok Sabha elections in 2009. "It was also her decision to tie up with Congress in 2011 to form government in Bengal."

Dasmunshi said "they can put up candidates in all 42 seats but without Congress, it seems impossible. If that happens, it will help the Left only."