Trinamool pact only on paper, MLAs tell Rahul

Newly-elected Congress legislators from West Bengal have complained to party general secretary Rahul Gandhi that the alliance with the Trinamool Congress "existed on paper only" and "their party has no say" in the government there.

Newly-elected Congress legislators from West Bengal have complained to party general secretary Rahul Gandhi that the alliance with the Trinamool Congress "existed on paper only" and "their party has no say" in the government there.

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"In reality, there is no alliance with Trinamool Congress. It's a one-party show. We are never consulted on important policy decisions and they (Trinamool leaders) don't listen to us," a legislator told him.

Gandhi had called a meeting of newly-elected legislators — all below 45 years — from five states where elections were held recently. As many as 22 — most of them first-time winners — turned up.

During the 90-minute interaction, the legislators gave detailed presentations about the issues and political situation in their states.

"Rahulji told us to plan ahead for the next 10-15 years and to focus on issue-based politics rather than development … as the success of issues would automatically lead to development," a young legislator said.

The MLAs were asked to speak about issues confronting the nation, their states and the party and also suggest solutions.

Gandhi, according to another legislator, told them that their performance in the state and in the legislative assemblies would be monitored at the central level.