NEW DELHI: While the Left Front in West Bengal has declared its candidates for the coming Assembly polls, the Congress is still grappling with a major decision — to be or not to be with Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.

Having resolved at the Hyderabad Plenary to take on the Left Front in West Bengal, there is a groundswell of opinion in the State Congress unit favouring an electoral pact with the Trinamool Congress. Yet, it is the other entry in the resolution, of not having any truck with political parties in the Bharatiya Janata Party camp, that has created a difficult situation, a senior Congress leader said.

A way out

In an effort to find a way out of these contradictory positions, Congress general secretary Margaret Alva opened talks with Ms. Banerjee here last week and on Sunday to explore what could be done in the current context. Ms. Banerjee's renewed offer of a "Mahajot" (a grand alliance of parties) to take on the Left Front in West Bengal or engage the ruling coalition in direct contests in the 294-strong Assembly has not found favour in the Congress.

On the other hand, the Congress wants to convince Ms. Banerjee to join the Congress by snapping ties with the BJP, similar to the move the Trinamool Congress made in the 2001 Assembly elections. The combine then bagged 86 seats, with Trinamool candidates emerging victorious in 60 and the Congress in 26.

Not practical

Since her meeting with Ms. Banerjee, Ms. Alva has met West Bengal Pradesh Congress chief and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and senior party leader Priyaranjan Dasmunsi. Mr. Mukherjee is credited with the view that a direct Left Front versus one Opposition candidate formulation was not practical in the absence of a long-term programme-based understanding.

Prior to her talks with Ms. Banerjee, Ms. Alva spent two days in West Bengal assessing the mood of the party workers by holding discussions at various levels. Later, she met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and apprised her of the situation.

Effort to deny credit

Besides indicating electoral understanding with the Trinamool, sources said Ms. Alva suggested that party MPs should spend time outside their own districts in the run up to the elections. Similarly, party leaders should associate themselves with Central schemes being launched now, so as to deny the Left Front Government any credit for them.

The party plans to utilise the frontal organisations, including the active Indian National Trade Union Congress to counter the Left Front electoral machinery in the State.

Senior leaders have also suggested declaration of party candidates by early next month.

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