Feeling high and dry

It seems the Congress has been left high and dry in West Bengal. Left Front allies of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) say strengthening their unity and intensifying protests against the Trinamool Congress government in the state led by Mamata Banerjee takes precedence over working out a future with the Congress. After a recent meeting, a Left leader said: "The issue of hand-holding with the Congress can be considered later as the party is not part of the Left Front. If they want, they can join our movements but we are not so excited about it."