Madanmohanchak (West Midnapore), April 3: "Comrade- der lal salaam," a leader thundered at a joint rally of Manas Bhuniya and Surjya Kanta Mishra, and it was not the CPM state secretary.

Congress veteran Bhuniya, who had staunchly opposed the electoral understanding with the Left till the alliance crystallised, today greeted those attending the joint rally in Mishra's constituency - Narayangarh in West Midnapore - with the communists' traditional clenched-fisted resolve for unity.

Bhuniya urged Congress and CPM activists to "strengthen the understanding we have reached".

Pointing to Mishra, who has been re-nominated from Narayangarh, Bhuniya said: "This man's initiative to bring together two opposite parties for an electoral understanding to oust an autocratic government from Bengal would be etched in the history of Indian politics."

Many expressed surprise at the camaraderie displayed by the two leaders. Sources said there had always been a rivalry between Bhuniya and Mishra as they were MLAs from the same district. Both are doctors.

In private conversations, Bhuniya is said to have often expressed his dislike for the CPM and even blamed the party for his mother's death. The leader's mother had died of a heart attack during a raid on his ancestral home in Sabang by suspected CPM activists.

Other personal reasons had also played a role in the Congress leader's distaste for the CPM, the sources said. In private conversations, Bhuniya is said to have often accused the CPM of harassing him and his family, even "poisoning" the fish in his pond.

When the two parties had begun talks for an electoral understanding, Bhuniya had publicly opposed it and made his reservations clear to the central leadership.

During his 20-minute speech, Bhuniya, who is contesting from the neighbouring Sabang seat, explained why the two "ideologically different" parties had come together.

"We had aligned with Trinamul in 2011. Mamata Banerjee assumed office as people voted for the Congress-Trinamul alliance. People wanted to oust the Left. But in the past five years, 174 Left activists and 83 Congress workers have been killed. Moreover, 1,600 CPM offices and 222 of the Congress were forcibly closed. Even I was framed in a false case. That had never happened in my 40-year political career. So, the handholding with the Left is the need of the hour," he said.

Mishra urged CPM and Congress workers to forget their individual political identities. "Tell people that you are representing an alliance that was worked out in response to their demand for an end to misrule," he said.

The CPM state secretary urged Left and Congress workers to "protect" Trinamul activists too. "During Mamata Banerjee's tenure, even Trinamul activists are not safe because of infighting. They are being killed in faction fights. So, you should extend your helping hand whenever they come to you," he said.

Asked after the meeting about his change in stand, Bhuniya said the go-it-alone line was his "personal opinion". "Now that the high command has given the go-ahead to the understanding, we will accept that," he said.

What about the lal salaam? "Since the huge crowd had supporters of both parties, I found it appropriate to drive home the point that an initiative has to be taken to strengthen the understanding," Bhuniya said.

The Congress MLA said he took part in today's campaign meeting to "reciprocate Surjyada's gesture". On March 14, Mishra had addressed a gathering of Congress and Left workers in Sabang.