Kolkata, Nov.11 The CPI(M)-led Left Front government is West Bengal is losing popularity in the state, claimed Union Finance Minister and President of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress party office here, Mukherjee pointed out that it was becoming apparent that the anti-Left people in the state were now supporting the Trinamool Congress-Congress (I) alliance.ukherjee said the people had voted overwhelmingly for the alliance in the Lok Sabha elections and the subsequent municipal elections in the state.

They also voted for the alliance wherever a joint candidate was put up during the assembly by-polls.

He said it was clear that the CPI(M)-led Left Front government in the state was losing the support of the voters.

Mukherjee, however, declined to comment on a possible date for the assembly elections in the state, scheduled for 2011.

The Congress party's alliance partner, the Trinamool Congress and its leader Mamata Banerjee has been clamouring for early polls in West Bengal.

Mukherjee said the date cannot be announced now, but it was apparent that the people of the state were now in favour of the opposition alliance.

In a clear snub to Banerjee, Mukherjee said the decision to carry out joint operations against Maoists in Lalgarh was taken by the state government and the centre together and the forces would remain in Lalgarh till deemed fit.

Banerjee had said at a recent rally that she did not support the joint operations in Lalgarh.

Mukherjee's statement today makes it clear that the centre is in no mood to cave into Trinamool Congress demands. By Ajitha Menon (ANI)