Congress silent on West Bengal, Tamil Nadu poll manifestos

The Congress is maintaining silence on whether or not it will come out with a manifesto for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are going to the polls next month. While it has so far announced 85 candidates for the West Bengal battle, the picture of Tamil Nadu seats is unclear.

Technically, the Congress is going alone in West Bengal but it is unlikely to contest all 294 seats. And if it contests about a 100 seats then there is no point in bringing out a manifesto. This would mean that it is not fighting the battle to form a government, sources said.

The Congress could be friendly with the Left Front but there is no clarity on seats where the Sonia Gandhi-led party and the Left would reach an understanding. According to Left sources, there is no serious talk on such seats. “The West Bengal Congress leaders come to us in groups with mediapersons... but talks on seats cannot be held in such circumstances,” they viewed.

The Congress’ target is the ruling Trinamul Congress led by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. It will be interesting to see Mrs Gandhi’s attack on Ms Banerjee after fielding Deepa Das Munshi from the Bhowanipore seat against her.

The Trinamul Congress, which was part of the UPA at the Centre and in the state, has not joined the NDA so far. But the Congress-Left’s joint campaign could compel it to be friendly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As for the Tamil Nadu polls, the Congress has become a junior ally of the DMK and will fight the elections on a manifesto of the DMK-led front. There the Congress’ priority is to increase its numbers and share power if the DMK-led front defeats the AIADMK this time.

The Congress, which is seriously fighting the Assam and Kerala battle against the BJP and the LDF, will come out with the election manifesto. It has already announced 65 candidates for Assam.

Local leaders are going to be the star campaigners in these states. While chief ministers Tarun Gogoi and Oommen Chandy are leading the battle from the front in Assam and Kerala, the PCC chiefs in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are expected maintain the fighting spirit.