Date:13/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/13/stories/2008021360071300.htm

National

Fight not against Left politics: Mamata

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said her “fight is not against Left politics” but against the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

She said here she was willing to talk to any Left party, other than the CPI (M), which might want to join her newly formed Progressive Secular and Democratic Front — a combine of 17 parties and organisations — “and has faith in the democratic movement” on condition that it “agree to our common minimum agenda.”

The front would not go in for alliance with either the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party in the May panchayat polls.

Withdraw cases

Ms. Banerjee is one with the State leadership of the All-India Forward Bloc — a constituent of the ruling Left Front — in its demand that all cases brought against its supporters in connection with the February 5 Dinhata violence, which claimed six lives, be withdrawn.