Left, Congress to collectively fight TMC in assembly polls: CPI (M)

Kolkata: CPI(M) leader Surjya Kanta Mishrahas said an "extraordinary and Emergency like situation in West Bengal and the people's desire" have forced his party to join hands with Congress to oust TMC from power but it has not been decided who will be the chief minister if the combine comes to power after the assembly election.

"We will cross the bridge when we come to it. We are not discussing this issue now. Our main fight is for restoration of democracy in the state," Mishra said when asked who will be the chief minister if the parties come to power.

On whether the two parties have formulated the common minimum programme, Mishra, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly replied in the negative.

Defending his party's electoral pact with Congress, whose many policies and programme it had opposed, Mishra, also a CPI(M) Politburo member, said, "It is an extraordinary situation. There is undeclared emergency in the state. It is mainly an attack on democracy and secular credentials that led to the formation of a broad platform of Left secular and democratic forces in the state.

"There is no hide and seek. I had given a call at a public meeting asking Congress to clear their stand on whether they are ready to oust this government or not. Our stand, as I said, is to oust TMC and save Bengal, oust BJP and save India.

"Subsequently WBPCC had taken a stand which we think is consistent with our stand. We want to ensure that the division of secular, democratic and Left votes do not help the TMC win", Mishra, the CPI(M) State Secretary said.