Theories abound on Trinamool-Hazare rift

Ill health and low turnout among reasons for Anna's no show at TMC rally in Capital

Even as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership is still reeling from social activist Anna Hazare's snub, several theories regarding the rift are doing the rounds. While Hazare cited ill health and low turnout as the reasons for withdrawing from the much-hyped joint public rally in the capital, TMC believes there is more to it.

"While ill health is an excuse and a low turnout could be one of the reasons, surely it isn't the only one. We believe we have either walked into a trap or Anna changed his mind at the last moment due to pressure from some political group that had supported him earlier," said a TMC leader.

In the TMC camp, there is speculation that Hazare's U-turn resulted from the fact that he didn't want to upset the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "The likes of Kiran Bedi are already publicly supporting the BJP. Anna has already lost Kejriwal; perhaps, he did not want to lose Bedi's support, too, by endorsing the TMC. But it seems to be a last-minute thought of Anna," said a TMC leader who had accompanied Banerjee to Delhi.

Another theory is Hazare became wary after a "campaign" initiated by a section of both political and non-political groups, aimed at creating a rift between Hazare and the TMC. Soon after Anna extended his support to the TMC, several political parties, especially the Left, were quick to point out TMC leaders' alleged involvement in the Saradha scam.

Also, the Association for Protection of Human Rights, a rights group, had written to Hazare, highlighting Banerjee's reluctance to appoint a Lok Ayukta in West Bengal, as well as her public disapproval of Hazare's Lok Pal movement. "When journalists asked for her comment over your movement on Lok Pal, her response was 'joto shob faltu (all bogus)'. We are reminding you all this to make you understand her attitude over Lok Pal and Lok Ayukta," the letter said. It added while the Lok Pal movement was underway, Banerjee had refused to accept a prize from a national television channel in the presence of Hazare.

"Maybe, all this prompted Anna to think again and the low turnout provided the immediate trigger," said a TMC leader.

With Hazare turning his back on a joint campaign, the TMC has partially shelved its plan to go national. Apart from cancelling its proposed rally scheduled for Thursday in Ahmedabad, the party has also decided not to aggressively field candidates in northern states, something it was initially keen on.

Though the party had decided to contest all seven seats in Delhi, apart from fielding actor Biswajeet from the south Delhi constituency, it hasn't yet announced candidates for the other six seats.

"Now, we are discussing whether to field candidates from the remaining seats in Delhi," said a senior TMC leader. Sources say if rebel Aam Aadmi Party legislator Vinod Kumar Binny agreed to contest, he might be declared a TMC candidate from one of the Delhi constituencies.