Congress needs to adjust, Gowda is a good man: Mamata

Finding fault with the Congress for its attack on JD(S) during Karnataka campaign, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the grand old party needs to accommodate other parties along in the fight against BJP.

Describing JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda as a "good man", she reminded the Congress that it supported him when his government when became the prime minister in 1996.

"Our wish is that Congress' relationship with JD(S) in Karnataka is harmonious. Why should it disintegrate? Why there is a change, I don't know. Congress needs to adjust. I cannot tell Congress what it should do. It is their prerogative. If you ask my opinion, as a layman, I will say that they should be together," Banerjee told reporters.

Her response came when asked whether she would campaign in Karnataka along with other Opposition chief ministers.

Though she did not mention directly, her comments came against the backdrop of Congress stepping up attack against JD(S), which has formed an alliance with BSP for the Karnataka Legislative Assembly polls. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has described JD(S) as "Janata Dal (Sangh)" and not Janata Dal (Secular), claiming that it was acting in the interest of BJP.

"It (campaigning) depends on what kind of relationship one has with the other party. In Tripura, we wanted to have ties with Congress. But it has other views. It is Congress' prerogative what they want," Banerjee said.

The West Bengal chief minister's comments are seen as part of her efforts to build a broad front against BJP. Trinamool Congress sources said the party does not want the Opposition to fight each other and pool in all resources to defeat the BJP.