Kolkata: Internal differences have emerged within Democratic Trinamool Congress (DTC) over strategy ahead of the forthcoming municipal elections in Kolkata and Howrah. While DTC decided against any alliance for the civic polls at a meeting at Trinamool Bhavan off EM Bypass on Friday, Kamarhati MLA Madan Mitra suggested that joining hands with former chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s faction would help defeat BJP.DTC chairman Arup Roy on Friday ruled out an alliance with other parties, including NCPI, for the municipal elections. “We have no connection with NCPI. NCPI is a separate party that has merged with BJP,” he said.Reacting to CM Suvendu Adhikari’s claim that 64 Trinamool rebel MLAs would back him in a floor test, Roy said: “I do not know what is in anyone’s mind personally. We are the real Trinamool Congress.” He added that the party was awaiting the Election Commission’s decision on its symbol before finalising candidates.Arriving at Trinamool Bhavan, Mitra questioned the rebels’ decision to contest separately and called for reconciliation instead. “Mamata Banerjee is the ultimate Trinamool. She is talking about friendship with everyone; could she not have said, ‘Come, let us all Trinamool fight together’? She is the ultimate Trinamool, even without the symbol,” Mitra said.“If everyone fights together, BJP will be defeated in Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Otherwise, by standing separately, we divide votes,” he added.
