Cong's reply to Lalu's Bihar dare: We don't care

Kolkata: With RJD supremo Lalu Prasad taking a jibe at Congress' decision to contest 37 of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee retorted by saying the party did not depend on “the assessment of an individual".

"We do not depend on the assessment of any individual. We have our own assessment in West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand,” he said, adding, "Every political party functions on the basis of its assessment. When the results are declared, it will be known who has what strength, (in Bihar)," he said.

In a show of electoral harmony, Mukherjee also said his party would campaign jointly with the Trinamool Congress at every level to defeat the communists in the Lok Sabha elections.

"We will send directions to our workers at every level in the state to make the alliance a success by holding joint campaigns and working for the alliance partner to defeat the communists," Mukherjee said Saturday night in a joint press conference with Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee.

"In all 28 seats where Trinamool is fighting (Socialist Unity Centre of India is contesting from one seat), our party workers will campaign and assist the party in postering and wall writing.

"We have issued direction in this regard. As per our party constitution, we can even suspend those members for six years who would not abide by the decision taken at the national level (of Congress)," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee told reporters that both he and the TC chief have requested Sonia Gandhi to campaign in at least two of the three phases of polls in West Bengal.

"Both of us will be present at such meetings," he said.

Banerjee and Mukherjee agreed to campaign jointly for the alliance it had forged to take on CPI(M)-led Left Front in the elections.

The two parties clinched a seat-sharing formula on March 12 under which Trinamool Congress would contest 28 of the 42 seats in the state and Congress 14.

"We have decided to remove any confusion about joint campaign for the alliance which has been finalised with the permission of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi," Mukherjee said.

To stem resentment in Congress against the alliance with Trinamool Congress, Mukherjee warned partymen of disciplinary action, including suspension for six years, if they went against the tie-up.