Mamata pushes ties to brink

J.P. YADAV

New Delhi, June 14: Mamata Banerjee today pushed her relationship with the Congress to the brink as she pitched for A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as her “formidable… number one” presidential nominee and dared the Congress to throw her out of the UPA.

“Our candidate is Kalam,” Mamata declared outside the 16 Ashoka Road residence of Mulayam Singh Yadav, trying to look defiant despite the absence of the Samajwadi Party chief by her side.

Sources said Mulayam was upset with Mamata for jumping the gun on Kalam. ( )

Mulayam’s failure to step out with her, which stood out in sharp contrast with Wednesday’s joint announcement at the same venue, fuelled doubts on how long the heartland veteran would stick with Mamata.

The Bengal chief minister refused to read too much into it. But she later rushed an MP, Kunal Ghosh, to Mulayam’s residence that reaffirmed her fears about the reliability of the Samajwadi leader.

After the short meeting with Mulayam, Ghosh said the Mamata-Mulayam friendship was on and alleged deliberate efforts from “certain sections” to create confusion.

Mamata, who remained closeted through the day with her close aides, spelt out in the evening her intent to have a contest in the presidential election if there was no consensus on Kalam.

The chief minister said the ball was in the Congress’s court on her continuation in the UPA and asserted that there was no question of changing her stand on Kalam. “I am not the one to get threatened. Nobody can threaten me,” Mamata said in an indirect reference to the Congress amid reports that efforts were on to turn Mulayam around and isolate Mamata.

Ruling out the possibility of a compromise candidate, Mamata said: “I have taken a stand. I cannot change it, you know.” She went on to give a “clarion call” for a “conscience vote” and urged all political parties to vote for Kalam, the “best candidate”.

Asked whether she would walk out of the UPA, Mamata sought to put the onus of a decision on the Congress. “We have not left the UPA. If they don’t want us, they can throw us out…. The choice is with the Congress,” Mamata said, just before leaving for her meeting with Mulayam.

Mamata said she would not attend the UPA meeting scheduled for tomorrow to discuss the presidential election. She, however, cited the excuse of being already late in reaching Calcutta for not attending the UPA meet.

Her intent, however, was clear as railway minister Mukul Roy did not attend today’s cabinet meeting and she shut out efforts by some Congress leaders to reach out to her. Mamata is scheduled to leave for Calcutta by an afternoon flight tomorrow.

Her determination to lock horns with the Congress was clear as she called Kalam more than once in a bid to convince him to contest. She later claimed that Kalam had agreed to contest. Kalam has not yet made a public announcement.

Mamata sought to set aside concerns about her being tagged with the NDA and the BJP which are said to be in favour of Kalam. “It is not fair to say he will be BJP candidate or Naveen (Patnaik)’s candidate or Mamata’s candidate. Earlier also, I had proposed Kalam’s name and the NDA had supported,” she said.

The chief minister did not rule out the possibility of a mid-term election if the UPA lost the presidential poll. “If the ruling party loses the presidential election, it is for the Congress to consider mid-term elections,” she said in response to a question on the possibility of snap polls. But Mamata clarified that she was not pushing for one.

Close aides of Mamata affirmed that under no circumstances would she back Pranab Mukherjee for the President’s post and she was convinced that the Congress was determined to make him the candidate despite her opposition.

Mamata’s aides today used Mukherjee’s calls to CPM leaders in Calcutta to seek support as a handle to attack him. “In the last six months, Pranabda has not called Mamata even once. Today, he called CPM leaders for support and people of Bengal will see who are his friends,” said Ghosh, the Trinamul MP.

Trinamul insiders said Mamata’s “separation” with the Congress was virtually complete, though she would not push for a formal divorce. “She will remain in the UPA and continue to live separately to torment the Congress,” said a Trinamul leader.(TT)