'Trinamool won't ally with NDA'

The Trinamool Congress will never ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA or join any front that includes the Left, party general secretary Mukul Roy has said.

But the former railway minister did not rule out the possibility of reconciling with the Congress party if it decides to scrap foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and the diesel price hike.

"If the Congress rolls back FDI in retail and the fuel price hike, then they can approach us," Roy told IANS.

He outrightly rejected the possibility of his party joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), of which it was a part from 1998 to 2006 except for a brief period in 2001.
The Trinamool quit the Congress-led UPA government over the union government's economic decisions including FDI in retail trade.

What about a Third Front, Roy was asked. "I can't say what will happen in the future," he replied.

But the Trinamool won't be a part of any alliance which includes the Left Front, he added.

The 57-year-old MP said his party will organise nationwide campaigns to explain why it withdrew from the central government. This will kick off in New Delhi's Jantar Mantar Monday.