June 19, 2012

Why Mamata Runs A Lonely Path?

After former President APJ Abdul Kalam's decision to withdraw from the Presidential race, Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seems to have faced a huge shock. Further the tide is almost in favor of Pranab Mukherjee , the one she doesn’t want to hold the top post. This was the second blow in a short span of three days after her short-term friend Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav abandoned her to back Pranab. It now appears that the Trinamool Congress chief is running out of options.

The Trinamool Congress then came up with a thinly disguised threat with party leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay saying, "We are with the government but can resign when the time comes," reported IBN Live.

But this isn’t the first time that Mamata has opposed the Congress-led UPA Cabinet in their decisions.  She is well known for her tantrums and for being a hindrance to the decision making at the centre. From making the Railway Minister quit to the constant flare-ups between the two parties on various issues like the Lokpal bill, the sharing of Teesta waters and the FDI in retail sector, Mamata has always caused an obstruction. Further Mamata doesn’t seem to be getting enough and resorts to constant threats to move out of UPA.

After Kalam himself ruled out his participation in the Presidential race, for Mamata, who was his most loud proponent, there was little to do but go back to political brinkmanship. Kalam's refusal is a big blow and Mamata wrote on Facebook, "Kalam Saheb, you have touched our hearts and our spirit. I have seen your statement that you are not contesting. This news has hurt all of us deeply. You were a People's President and bridged the gap between high office and common people," reported India Today.

In another post, she asked the "citizens and of course, the young generation of India, to raise their voices and be counted to fight against corruption, back-room deal making Machiavellian manipulations and machinations".

Senior Trinamool leader and Union minister of state for health Sudip Bandopadhyay said to India Today “Already some TV channels have started telecasting that some Trinamool ministers have submitted their resignation to Mamata Banerjee. Let me tell you that this is absolutely baseless and untrue."

He added that "The government needs our support. We have not taken any decision to quit the ministry. But yes, all Trinamool ministers in the UPA are mentally prepared to quit the Cabinet anytime. If the Centre feels we are forcibly occupying berths, they may ask the Trinamool representatives to leave the ministry. I am sure none of our members would hesitate to leave their positions."

Having hedged her bets on Kalam, Mamata has refused to back NCP leader PA Sangma's Presidential hopes.

The Congress meanwhile reached out by pulling up party general secretary Digvijaya Singh for criticizing Mamata's stand on Pranab. Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said, "Mamata Banerjee was, is and will be a close ally of the UPA. I am hopeful that she will take lead in making Pranab Mukherjee victorious in President's race," reported IBN Live.

Mamata is now left with a few choices. Having said a firm no to Pranab Mukherjee, she can now either refrain from voting or side with the NDA, which also appears political improbable as she then would have to pull the plug on the UPA.

Last week Mamata had asked her ministers to launch a spiteful attack on Mukherjee. Subrata Mukherjee, Trinamool’s senior vice-president, had said “We do not know, if Pranab babu has ever tried to help Bengal... And that includes his village too that still does not have drinking water or pucca roads,” reported DNA. “Now, people are trying to show that he is a great Bengali,” he added. The Trinamool leaders resorted to such comments to oppose Bengali newspapers that had been running positive stories on Mukherjee ever since the UPA announced his name for the top post.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Mamta is afraid that the people of W.Bengal will lean towards congress if the highest post in the country is held by Mr. Pranab Mukherjee( a staunch congressman, though a President is supposed to be apolitical)