Parishad tie-up hint

May 21: Trinamul Congress sources in the Dooars and Terai have revealed that the party is in talks with the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad for a poll alliance in the plains tea gardens. “Last Saturday, around 10.30pm, a meeting was held between Chanda Bhowmik (the Jalpaiguri district Trinamul president)and Parishad regional secretary Rajesh Lakra, who was accompanied by some other leaders in Jalpaiguri. The discussion was effective and both the sides agreed on the need for an alliance for the rural polls. The final deal, however, is yet to be sealed,” a Trinamul source said. “Deb has held talks with Parishad state president Birsa Tirkey on the issue,” the source added. Sources in the Parishad, which has a strong union presence in tea gardens, said the party had put some conditions for the alliance. Top-most o that list is that Trinamul should not tie up with John Barla’s JMM, the Gorkha janmukti Morcha or any other pro-Gorkhaland outfit. Trinamul, which had held talks with Barla, seems to have started to distance itself from the tribal leader in a subtle manner. It has attempted to win supporters by holding a meeting at the Lakkhipara Tea Estate at Banarhat, which is Barla’s backyard. “Further, the joining of several key Morcha leaders and supporters of Barla has boosted the party’s morale, which, as of now, prefers to move ahead with a safe political strategy of joining hands with the Parishad,” the Trinamul source said. “Another prime reason behind this prospective alliance is the Parishad’s anti-Gorkhaland stance, which is beyond any doubt,” a Trinamul source said. Lakra, when asked about his talks with Trinamul, said: “We consider Trinamul as an anti-Gorkhaland force, courtesy the public statements made by party supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee. With such a standpoint, there is no problem if we ally with the party. Our candidates, however, will contest as Independents while in Trinamul’s seats, we can extend full-fledged support if the alliance is forged.” He added: “So far, talks have been conducive and we are looking forward with high hopes.” Trinamul does not have a strong presence in the garden areas and it is this void they had tried to fill through an alliance with Barla. However, Barla’s stand of wanting to stand by the Morcha as well may have upset the ruling party. Today, Barla said: “We feel ditched as several proposals were mooted and discussed with Trinamul leaders. Now if they shun us and move ahead with some other party or organisation, we will not leave an open field to them but would contest as a political contender, while maintaining the JMM-Gorkha Janmukti Morcha tie-up.”