Kolkata, New Delhi:
The Congress and the Trinamool Congress have broken apart for the important municipal elections in West Bengal and the attacks against each other have become more and more vicious every day.
"Congress has not brought us to power, we are in an alliance. It is the people of West Bengal who have supported us all through," said Mamata Banerjee, Railway Minister.
Mamata has voted against the Congress in the Lok Sabha on several key votes, creating even greater strain between the two partners.
But breaking apart for Kolkata municipal elections or even for Lok Sabha votes is not as important perhaps as for state Assembly elections. So, many believe there is a strong possibility of the two coming together for the big state elections. It would be suicide not to fight together.
If the Congress and Trinamool fight together, it could win an extra 80 to100 seats compared with if they fight separately.
But the uncertainty remains because the attacks against each other may develop into an irretrievable downward spiral with emotional leaders on both sides not backing down. Both sides are capable of committing suicide.
In the recent student elections, the CPM has won wherever the Congress and Trinamool have fought separately, like in north Bengal even the lower CPM vote has been enough for them to win most seats.
For the CPM, the writing was on the wall but the sudden fight between Mamata and the Congress has given Buddhadeb a glimmer of hope in the next Assembly elections, and the CPM cadre is apparently revitalized watching the opposition attacking each other.