“They(Congress) are in control in New Delhi; but here in Bengal, the verdict in the civic polls has shown who is stronger and it speaks for itself and our performance is there for everyone to see,” said Banerjee after announcing the name of the new mayor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation(KMC) here at Maharastra Nivas,
Claiming that she would stick to her commitment, Banerjee said Trinamool had given ‘a written word’to support the UPA-II government for five years at the time of its formation and as an ally, it would not desert the UPA unless TMC is shown the door.
Reiterating her pathological aversion to the Marixsts, she said:”Our tie-up with the UPA will last as long as it has no relation with the CPI(M). We can't co-exist with the CPI(M) just as DMK and AIADMK cannot coexist."
Taking a dig at those who have questioned the trustworthiness of Trinamool, she said, “Those who are saying that we are not to be trusted, should understand that we are more to be trusted than anybody else. There cannot be comparison between our commitment and those of others. We only want love and respect. We want a reciprocal gesture.”
Future cooperation
In a veiled reference to future cooperation with Congress, she said ‘respect begets respect’ and Trinamool is not averse to coming to an understanding with the Congress in the coming assembly elections.
“With people’s support behind us, I’ll speak on what is happening today. I will not hazard a guess about the future now. If there is an opportunity for talks, we'll respond to that suitably and I still believe nothing is closed."
Her remarks come in the wake of a senior state Congress leader who said that the parent party could hardly be written off following the civic poll results as it was still a force to reckon with in at least six districts and an alliance could not be made at the cost of the party. “I have full respect for the senior leaders of the Congress. They are at liberty to voice their opinion in a democratic set up and it's their prerogative. I have nothing to comment," she added.
In KMC, Trinamool swept to power, capturing 95 wards out of 141, relegating the Congress to a poor third with ten.
Unlike the Lok Sabha elections, the civic polls saw Trinamool Congress and Congress fighting separately, a scenario which was supposed to provide additional advantage to the Left to cash in on the expected division in the anti-Left votebank. Much to the dismay of the Marxists, that did not happen as the mood of the electorate swung decisively in favour of the TMC.
The TMC supremo who stopped short of showing her belligerence, praised Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and described him as a good man and a gentleman.
“We have got all his blessings and support. He is not only a good administrator, he also has information about who is doing what,” said Banerjee.,