One of the factions owing allegiance to an area commander named Bikram has backed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for being the lone bourgeoisie alternative to the ruling CPM and hastily issued a statement, pledging support to her party on a “movement-oriented alliance”.
The statement faxed to various media houses on Tuesday said: “We want movement-oriented alliance with Mamata Banerjee to flourish, but for that, she’ll also have to stand firmly in favour of the common man.” The observation by the Maoist faction has put the TMC in a fix, triggering a quick damage control mission.
Bikram, who called upon Banerjee to quit the railway portfolio in protest against Operation Green Hunt, sought to remind her of the “old ties” the ultras allegedly had with her during the peak of agitation at Singur and Nandigram.
Quick to deny any such links with the Naxals, the Trinamool on Wednesday launched a counter campaign, alleging that this (statement) was a clever plant by the Marxists to malign the TMC.
“We don’t have any truck with the Naxals. Security forces have claimed to have cracked on the Maoists’ links. It’s very surprising that none in the police ranks knows from where the statement was faxed. This only proves that the entire thing was pre-planned to malign the Trinamool,” senior party leader and Union Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy told Deccan Herald.
Significantly, the statement emerged barely a couple of days after a war of words broke out between Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, with the latter accusing the TMC of openly hobnobbing with the Maoists.
“Due to our joint efforts, the demon called the CPM is on the back foot in West Bengal ... people want this ... we also want to maintain and strengthen our relationship with Banerjee,” Bikram said.
But he pointed out that Banerjee’s repeated wrong stands were benefiting the CPM.