Cong takes on Trinamool in Howrah

They may be alliance partners but not in Howrah, where the Congress and Trinamool are eyeball to eyeball. HT reports.

They may be alliance partners but not in Howrah, where the Congress and Trinamool are eyeball to eyeball.

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The Congress is going to field candidates in many constituencies in Howrah if Amta Trinamool Congress working president Ramesh Paul does not withdraw his candidature.

"Our candidates will contest in six seats in Howrah if Paul does not withdraw from Amta," said Congress Howrah general secretary Durgapada Das.

Congress and Trinamool have a history of sparring in Howrah. Speaking to HT, district Congress president Kazi Abdur Rezzak said, "We wanted six seats in Howrah, Amta, Bagnan, Uluberia East, Panchla, Madhya and South Howrah. We briefed PCC chief Manas Bhuniya and Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee about our demands. Later we came to know that 6 seats were not possible and we settled for 3, Amta, Bagnan and Uluberia East. Ultimately we got one, Amta."

Rezzak replied in the affirmative about dissatisfaction among Congress workers in Howrah and did not rule out more bad news. " There is a distinct possibility of Congress supporters expressing their anger at the alliance." Earlier, he said, "We will take a final decision after PCC chief Manas Bhuniya returns from Delhi."

The alliance has never been strong in Howrah and the Congress came to power at Uluberia Municipality with Left support, angering Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee.