Congress yet to decide on forming alliance with TMC in West Bengal: Pranab Mukherjee
April 3rd, 2011 - 9:53 pm ICT by ANI
Kolkata, Apr 3(ANI): Congress leader and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said that his party is yet to decide on forming an alliance with its ally Trinamool Congress (TMC) in poll-bound West Bengal.
Releasing the party manifesto for the April-May assembly elections in the state, Mukherjee however insisted that the party would support the TMC.
“The Congress is yet to decide whether we should join the government. We should support the government. There are two aspects, one aspect we should support the government. We will be with government. We will be with Trinamool Congress so far as the adjustment is concerned. But regarding the joining the coalition government in each state, on each occasion, Congress leadership take the decision just at the point of time,” Mukherjee said.
He also said that the recommended financial assistance to the state from the Central government has been increased by more than double.
“As per the recommendations of the Finance Commission for a period of five years fro 2005 to 2010 West Bengal got little less than 51 thousand crore - 50997 crore precisely. This time 13th Finance Commission has recommended one lakh 18 thousand crore of rupees that means 131 percent increase,” Mukherjee said.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front has been in power in the state for over three decades.
Presently, it is facing a tough challenge from TMC and the Congress, who have stepped up pressure by raising simmering issues such as Maoist insurgency, corruption, and unemployment, ahead of the polls.
The state will have elections in six phases. The first phase of voting will take place on April 18, second phase on April 23, third phase on April 27, fourth phase on May 3, fifth phase on May 7 and sixth phase on May 10.
Analysts believe the outcome of the polls in West Bengal would be crucial for national politics. (ANI)
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Tags: assembly elections, central government, coalition government, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, congress leader, congress leadership, fifth phase, fourth phase, kolkata, maoist, national politics, party manifesto, pranab mukherjee, rupees, second phase, sixth phase, three decades, union finance minister, west bengal