Kolkata, Oct 26: Congress today ruled out any poll alliance with CPI(M) in the coming assembly elections as suggested by the veteran marxist leader Jyoti Basu, terming the suggestion as 'without any substance'. "It is a good gesture, but without any substance," AICC member and WBPCC president Pranab Mukherjee told newspersons here. "CPI(M) has a strong presence only in three states - West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura - where they would not go for an alliance. In other places, they hardly have any presence. So what is the significance of such alliance," he said when asked to comment on Basu's recent remarks that the marxists should join hands with the congress for the coming assembly elections to fight the BJP.
Bureau Report