Kolkata: The West Bengal Congress on Wednesday
said that the abstention by the Trinamool Congress during
voting on the Women's Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha
would not come in the way of floor coordination between the
two parties in the state assembly.
"This happens in politics, but it will not come in the
way of floor coordination between TC and Congress here,"
Leader of Congress Legislature Party in the assembly Manas
Bhunia said.
Bhunia said that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata
Banerjee was a supporter of the Women's Reservation Bill and
yesterday's situation should not have taken place.
He hoped that she would talk to Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Union Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the problem would be resolved.
The Bill, he hoped, would also have a smooth sailing
in the Lok Sabha.
Trinamool Congress Secretary General and Leader of the
Opposition Partha Chatterjee, echoing party supremo Mamata
Banerjee, attributed the party's abstention from voting in
the Rajya Sabha to a communication gap.
Stating that his party was committed to the Women's
Reservation Bill, Chatterjee said that Banerjee had introduced
reservation in the party and four of the 19 Trinamool MPs were
women.
Left Front Chief Whip in the assembly Syed Md Masih,
however, told reporters here that the alliance between the
Congress and Trinamool Congress was 'opportunistic' and would
not last long.
"Their only purpose is to attack the CPI(M). It is an
opportunistic alliance. It cannot last long. It was exposed
during TC's abstention from voting on the Women's Bill in the
Rajya Sabha yesterday," he said.
"We have seen their floor management in Delhi as well
as in the state. We are not concerned. They have no principle.
The people will reject them," he said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 19:13