BJP today found unlikely allies in the Left parties as it attacked railway minister Mamata Banerjee's alleged support to the Maoists and her questioning of the encounter in which Maoist spokesman Azad was killed.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, BJP deputy leader Gopinath Munde got up and sought permission from speaker Meira Kumar to raise the issue of Banerjee questioning the encounter.

Kumar asked Munde to raise the matter during Zero Hour but the BJP leader insisted on speaking immediately.

Even as the Speaker called for the Question Hour, Munde began speaking on the issue. At this point Trinamool Congress members started protesting prompting the Left members to rise in their seats and back the BJP in attacking Banerjee.

Trinamool member Sudip Bandopadyay was seen gesturing in the House suggesting that the BJP has made common cause with arch ideological rivals - the Left parties.

"They do not want Question Hour to run," parliamentary affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said, pointing towards the Opposition benches as BJP and Trinamool members continued to raise slogans against each other.

Congress members were on their feet demanding smooth functioning of the Question Hour.

As the Speaker continued with the Question Hour, the BJP members took their seats acceding to the Chair's request to raise the matter during Zero Hour.

Yesterday, at a rally in the Maoist stronghold Lalgarh in West Bengal, Banerjee condemned "the manner" in which Maoist spokesperson Cherukiri Rajkumar, alias Azad, was "murdered" in Andhra Pradesh last month.