Mamata, Mulayam keep Congress guessing
15 May 2012 5:35 AM GMT
A crucial United Progressive Alliance (UPA) constituent and one ally met in the national capital recently under the pretext of discussing the presidential election scenario, but sources in the Congress believe that there is much more to this meet. The constituent in question is the Trinamool Congress and the ally the Samajwadi Party. Their leaders, Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh Yadav, created a buzz within the Congress when they recently met.
A Congress source says, 'There is nothing common between the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party. At the same time, there is no clash of interests between them either. So, the important question is why have the two suddenly got so close? They might have met under the pretext of discussing the issue of presidential poll, but we are sure that there is more to this sudden closeness.'
Critiquing this meet, the source remarks, 'Discussing the presidential poll cannot be the only reason for them to have met suddenly. There is something more to it. It is possible that this is one of the major subjects they discussed. But, there's definitely more which lies to this sudden meet.
'The only reason which has brought both these political players together is to have a discussion on mid-term poll as early as possible. The Samajwadi Party is of the opinion that the General Election should be held before 2014. It believes that it can win 50 to 60 parliamentary seats in Uttar Pradesh. It has, in fact, already started to select candidates for this.'
But, when it comes to the West Bengal chief minister Banerjee's next step, the source says, 'She too has the same thing in mind. It is quite possible that both these parties get some special package for their states from the government. Then they may support the candidate fielded by the Congress, provided they also have some soft corner for the candidate.'
But, it is not that these parties will just accept any UPA candidate as president. The source says, 'The Samajwadi Party has good relations with Pranab Mukherjee. It would also not have a problem with Ansari, but it will never give this impression to the nation, especially to the people in Uttar Pradesh, that the Congress has proposed a Muslim candidate, as this might affect their crucial vote bank. But it can be convinced on any of these names.'
After the hour-long closed-door meeting with Yadav, Banerjee had told reporters, 'Whatever we decide, we will decide jointly.' A clear indication that be it the presidential poll or a demand for early election, both the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party will take 'a joint decision'.
A Congress source says, 'There is nothing common between the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party. At the same time, there is no clash of interests between them either. So, the important question is why have the two suddenly got so close? They might have met under the pretext of discussing the issue of presidential poll, but we are sure that there is more to this sudden closeness.'
Critiquing this meet, the source remarks, 'Discussing the presidential poll cannot be the only reason for them to have met suddenly. There is something more to it. It is possible that this is one of the major subjects they discussed. But, there's definitely more which lies to this sudden meet.
'The only reason which has brought both these political players together is to have a discussion on mid-term poll as early as possible. The Samajwadi Party is of the opinion that the General Election should be held before 2014. It believes that it can win 50 to 60 parliamentary seats in Uttar Pradesh. It has, in fact, already started to select candidates for this.'
But, when it comes to the West Bengal chief minister Banerjee's next step, the source says, 'She too has the same thing in mind. It is quite possible that both these parties get some special package for their states from the government. Then they may support the candidate fielded by the Congress, provided they also have some soft corner for the candidate.'
But, it is not that these parties will just accept any UPA candidate as president. The source says, 'The Samajwadi Party has good relations with Pranab Mukherjee. It would also not have a problem with Ansari, but it will never give this impression to the nation, especially to the people in Uttar Pradesh, that the Congress has proposed a Muslim candidate, as this might affect their crucial vote bank. But it can be convinced on any of these names.'
After the hour-long closed-door meeting with Yadav, Banerjee had told reporters, 'Whatever we decide, we will decide jointly.' A clear indication that be it the presidential poll or a demand for early election, both the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party will take 'a joint decision'.
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