Samajwadi Party may replace Trinamool as key Congress ally

Upset with their West Bengal ally Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress leaders are exploring fresh alliances after the ensuing assembly polls.

Publicly, Congress strategists may have upped an ante against the BJP, privately they admit the defiance of the TMC was solely responsible for rocking Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Congress sources apprehend that the uneasiness may reach a tripping point in the Budget session, where the government is planning to table a slew of bills to revive the financial system.

Keeping in mind that TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, keen to secure space from the Left, has rocked decisions like FDI in retail, Air India disinvestment, legislations on pension, insurance and provident fund disinvestment, a senior Congress leader said a realignment has become imperative. But it depends on the outcome of the assembly polls, particularly Uttar Pradesh.

The leader confided that on Thursday afternoon, when TMC made it known to seek voting on its 37 amendments, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had invited all the 19 MPs to his chamber. But they snubbed the Congress party’s master strategist, who kept waiting for them in his chamber.

It appears now that the Congress may seek a post-poll alliance with the SP, in case the party wins substantial number of seats in Uttar Pradesh.

Expecting a post-poll alignment, Mulayam Singh Yadav is also believed to have cautioned his party cadre not to raise tempers beyond a point against Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

TMC leader Mukul Roy, however, says that in fact the Congress betrayed them. 

“We didn’t press our amendments in the Lok Sabha, anticipating they will be accommodated  in the Rajya Sabha,” he said.