Cong, CPI(M) finding it difficult to keep flock together in WB

Pradipta Tapadar Kolkata, Aug 17 (PTI) Plagued by defections andinfighting, the beleaguered Congress and CPI(M) are finding itdifficult to keep their flock together after the TrinamoolCongress retained power in West Bengal. In the last few months since the Assembly poll resultswere out delivering a thumping majority to the TrinamoolCongress, the party managed to take over variousopposition-controlled municipalities and panchayats in thestate, with Councillors and Panchayat members shifting to theTMC fold from either Congress or Left Front constituents. Even two MLAs, one each from Congress and Left Front,have switched over to the TMC last month, bringing down theopposition tally in the state Assembly from 76 to 74 in the294-member House. The TMC, which presently has 211 MLAs, however claimedit did not invite anybody to join their fold but those who arewilling to be part of West Bengal Chief Minister MamataBanerjee’s development process are coming over on their own. A livid opposition, however, alleged that TMC was usingmoney and muscle power to poach into opposition turf and takeaway it’s legislators. The helplessness to keep the opposition numbers intact inAssembly and municipality was more glaring in the comment of asenior state Congress leader who said, "What can we do ifsomeone wants to switch over to some other party? Who shall wecomplain against? There is nobody who is going to listen tous. The TMC is poaching on our MLAs and other leaders by notflouting the nitty gritty of anti-defection law,". Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader AbdulMannan asserted the party along with the CPI(M) will fightthis trend politically. "There is nothing that can be done excepting counteringthis trend politically. In those municipalities eithertwo-third of the opposition have joined TMC or in case ofpoaching of MLAs, the legislators having switched over arestill officially known as Congress or Left MLAs as they havenot resigned from their post," Mannan told PTI. MORE PTI PNTSUS MMDV