Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Hours after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said the Congress was scared of her party after the latter decided to contest upcoming state polls in Uttar Pradesh and Manipur, the national party hit back at its crucial ally.
Addressing the press here, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi sought to play down the rift but categorically said they were not scared of anyone.
There is no question of the 125-year-old party being scared of anyone, Singhvi said, adding disagreements are part of coalition politics and these will be sorted out eventually.
Banerjee had earlier in the day attacked Congress, saying the party interfered with federal structure and included Lokayukta in Lokpal Bill.
“Congress is worried because we decided to contest Assembly polls in UP and Manipur,” she had said.
The TMC chief had even told the ruling party at the Centre to quit the alliance in West Bengal if it wished to.
“If Congress feels they can go with the CPI(M), they can do it. Door is open. We can go it alone,” Banerjee said.
It may be noted that the Congress and Trinamool jointly lead the government in West Bengal while both are allies in the UPA government at the Centre.
The TMC’s opposition to FDI in retail, certain provisions in the Lokpal Bill, and the recent fuel price hike have created a tiff within the alliance.
More recently, the state Congress has been up in arms against the Mamata Banerjee government after it proposed to rename the Indira Bhavan.
Banerjee today said, “Congress is spreading canard against Trinamool Congress because we opposed FDI in retail and petrol price hike.”
First Published: Saturday, January 07, 2012, 14:07