Kolkata: Calls for a united opposition in Bengal surfaced on Friday as netas of Congress, CPM and Trinamool shared a dais at a ceremony to unveil the statue of veteran Congress neta Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi. While party seniors spoke of “pluralist” ideologies, Congress and Trinamool netas pitched for a joint fight.Speaking at a programme organised by the Gana Sanskriti Sangsad, a socio-cultural forum founded by Dasmunsi, Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar said: “The lawlessness in Bengal has to be stopped and people have to be united. There is no need to have a specific ideology. When people take to the streets, that leads them to a direction to end the oppression.”Pointing to divisive politics, he said Bengal was witnessing “a disturbing change”. “What we are witnessing in Bengal over the municipal election is unprecedented. People are being divided over linguistic identities,” he said.Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the true tribute to Dasmunsi would be for parties to assess the larger threat and rise above differences. “Every party has been saying that they are ready to fight alone. But if we can share a dais together, we can join hands in fighting the BJP. This presence should not be limited to speeches today on this dais,” he said. He cited the Left Front “joining hands with BJP” in 1988 at Shahid Minar Maidan to oust Rajiv Gandhi.Trinamool MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay said Dasmunsi believed in political pluralism all his life. “Even when engaged in fierce ideological battles, he separated political disagreements from personal relationships and never treated rivals as personal enemies,” he said.Left Front chairperson Biman Bose, who attended even though Dasmunsi was a staunch anti-Left campaigner, shared anecdotes on his political ethics, warmth and cordial ties with opposition netas.CPM open to Cong tie-up if it ditches TMC: SalimKolkata: CPM and Congress have been allies in the past and could join hands again, but Congress must first shun its love for Trinamool, CPM state secretary Md Salim hinted on Thursday.Speaking about a possible larger alliance in the coming elections, Salim said CPM was open to walking with anyone “without the 4 Cs”. “The four Cs stand for casteist, communal, criminal and corrupt. Anyone without the 4 Cs is welcome to join us in the fight against BJP,” he said.Asked about Mamata Banerjee, Salim said he had not named anyone while speaking about the 4 Cs. “We are trying to build a larger left alliance,” he added.
