By IANS,
Kolkata : Taken aback by Trinamool Congress’ unilateral announcement of its candidates for 228 seats for the West Bengal assembly elections, the Congress leadership Friday said it will discuss the new development and come out with a decision soon.
“We are a political party and we should always be prepared for any eventuality. It’s a new development and we will discuss the issue within our party and come out with a comprehensive statement very soon,” Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed told IANS over phone.
“Pranab-da (Pranab Mukherjee) had said that talks are inconclusive and we had differences over a few seats and also the quantity and quality of the seats. It was said that we would discuss it again. But somehow she (Mamata Banerjee) unilaterally announced the list today,” Ahmed said.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Friday announced a list of her party’s candidates for 228 seats, leaving only 64 seats for the Congress.
Talks between senior Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Banerjee Thursday were inconclusive as both could not reach an agreement on seat-sharing for the April 18-May 10 assembly elections in the state.
State Congress president Manas Bhuniya, while exuding confidence that discussions could still solve the imbroglio, said the people of West Bengal wanted an alliance between the Congress and Trinamool.
“The people of Bengal want an alliance between Congress and Trinamool. I am not taking this announcement with a negative note and I have full confidence on the process of discussion,” he added.
However, state Congress leader and Murshidabad strongman Adhir Choudhury expressed his disappointment and said, “She (Banerjee) could have announced the list for the remaining 64 seats also. Who could have stopped her?”