Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's statements slamming the law and order situation in West Bengal Bengal has opened a new battlefront with between the Congress and its largest ally at the Centre , the Trinamool Congress.
While West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly pointed out “restoration of peace” as the biggest success of her 13 month-old government, Chidambaram's specific reference to political violence in 2011 an 2012 has only widened the crack between the allies.
As an immediate response to the Chidambaram's comments, state panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee accused Chidambarm of misleading people by giving wrong information. However, the fall-out of Home Minister's statements may be much more than the harsh reaction from TMC as party insiders believe it has ruined the chances of any “patch-up” between the two allies ahead of the presidential election.
“The remarks were made to keep the CPM happy because they have assured them their vote in the Presidential election. The are trying to create pressure on us on the presidential election. But our party will not buckle under pressure,” Trinamool MP Kunal Gosh said.
Mamata Banerjee has said, she will announce her party's stand on Presidential poll only two days before the election, scheduled on July 19. Although, Banerjee herself will take a call, party leaders believe, it is “highly unlikely” that she will take a decision to support UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee.
“Given the scenario, it is highly unlikely we will support Pranab. The decision has to be taken whether to abstain or support Sangma. I personally believe abstaining is the best option before us,” a senior TMC leader said.
However, TMC is concerned about “cross-voting” as many representatives may who share cold vibes with the top leadership may go against the party line. TMC rebel MP Kabir Suman has already declared that he would vote for Pranab Mukherjee.
But efforts are on to bring all of them on board. In one such move, former Railway Minister, Dinesh Trivedi, had called on Mamata Banerjee at Writers' Building yesterday. Although, Trivedi did not say what was discussed, TMC Rajya Sabha member Kunal Ghosh said Trivedi has agreed to abide by what the party decides on the Presidential election.
Another TMC MP Somen Mitra who was recently seen at the Congress' state office in Kolkata attending a function, is also likely to be contacted by Mamata Banerjee. Meanwhile, the Bengal unit of the Congress on Friday continued its attack on the state government on the issue of political violence as Congress leader Abdul Mannan alleged Congress workers were being attacked by TMC workers across the state. The Pradesh Congress leader welcomed Chidambaram's comments on political violence.
Political observers believe that the Congress is trying to exploit the differences within the TMC on supporting Pranab Mukherjee, to get some of its leaders, who had left to join TMC, back in the fold of Congress. There is also a murmur in political quarters in Bengal, that TMC MP Somen Mitra has been offered the post of state Congress president as a trade-off for renewing his tie-up with Congress.
Although Congress is tight-lipped on the matter, TMC leader Subrata Mukherjee has already alleged that Congress is conspiring against the party and “trying to divide the party over the Presidential polls.”
