The Trinamool Congress and the Congress have decided to bury their pre-municipal poll rift, keeping in mind that a vote split before the assembly elections in West Bengal next year may be disadvantageous.
The two allies extended an olive branch towards each other on Thursday to work out a post-poll alliance and give mutual support to form the civic boards in 30 municipalities in which no party got 50 per cent of the seats.
Of these, the Trinamool has emerged as the single-largest party in 21 and the Congress in nine. Now the Trinamool, which has won 26 civic bodies, can end up getting control in 47. The Congress, with seven in its kitty already, may get 16.
The Left had won 54 municipalities in 2005. This time, its tally is down to 18.
Addressing the media at her residence on Thursday, Banerjee said, "Who says there are 30 hung municipalities? The Opposition will form the boards in most of them."
K Keshav Rao, Congress general secretary in charge of Bengal, said: "This is Mamata's victory. We will help her to form the civic boards. Our alliance is very much in place. We will work together to defeat the CPI(M) in Bengal."
{{/usCountry}}K Keshav Rao, Congress general secretary in charge of Bengal, said: "This is Mamata's victory. We will help her to form the civic boards. Our alliance is very much in place. We will work together to defeat the CPI(M) in Bengal."
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