The direct impact of this has been confusion in the Congress over how to explain to Mamata Banerjee that her attitude towards the Maoists would cost them dear politically.
An important communication channel between the Congress and its alliance partner in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress, has broken down. Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and Trinamool Congress chief and railway minister Mamata Banerjee have reportedly not spoken to each other since September 30, two days after the Congress tied up with the CPI(M) to capture the mayor’s post in Siliguri.
The direct impact of this has been confusion in the Congress over how to explain to Mamata Banerjee that her attitude towards the Maoists would cost them dear politically.
“The last time they met, in September, a lot was said from both sides after which there has been no meeting between the two,” said a senior source in the Trinamool.
The Trinamool Congress was furious with the Congress for breaking the alliance, but Mukherjee put up a spirited defence. “It has been over a month now that there has been no meeting between the two,” the source said.
Banerjee was heard telling an aide that strong words were exchanged between the two.
“In the past, the two managed to iron out whatever was bothering either party in the alliance.
“ Mamatadi, in fact, went over the railway budget with Pranab babu and frequently took his advice on many things,” said the source. While Banerjee has met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi after that, even travelling with her and prime minister Manmohan Singh to Kashmir to inaugurate the Kazigund-Anantnag railway link, she has not met Mukherjee.
In fact, sources say, Congress president Sonia Gandhi is anxious that the Congress’ reservations about the way the Trinamool appears to sympathise with the Maoists be conveyed to Banerjee. “Mamata Banerjee is expected to be back in Delhi after November 10. We are hoping there is a meeting between the two soon,” the source said.
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