In what can be termed as a rise of regionalism in politics, West Bengal, Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief, Mamata Banerjee, said today that she “will be happy to be of a part of Federal Front”.“I would like to go for a Federal Front. States should be more powerful,” Banerjee told CNN-IBN, Editor-in-Chief, Rajdeep Sardesai in an exclusive interview.
Although making her political choice clear, Banerjee who is “fed up” with the Congress, however, did not rule out an alliance in future with the national party, saying that her party will decide upon the strategy accordingly.
“I cannot decide on tomorrow’s strategy. I have a party with me. I am fed up with the Congress,” Banerjee said.
The Trinamool Congress formally broke its ties with the UPA government at the Centre on 22 September with six Union ministers—Mukul Roy, Saugata Roy, Sudip Bandhopadhyay, Sisir Adhikari, CM Jatua and Sultan Ahmed—submitting their resignation to Prime MinisterManmohan Singh and a withdrawal of support letter was also given to President Pranab Mukherjee.
In the interview, Banerjee sought to slam the Congress left, right and centre.
“Congress has no moral right to rule any more. I am not interested to ally with the Congress,” she said.
“Congress will not get even one seat. I challenge them whether there are elections today, tomorrow or day after,” Banerjee said in no uncertain terms.
Blaming the Congress for taking tough economic decisions without prior consultations, the Trinamool chief said, “I was shocked at the diesel price hike and the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders.”
Banerjee said that the Congress failed to keep its words despite knowing the political compulsions of the Trinamool. “Our party is a pro-people party. This is our manifesto commitment. We cannot ditch the people,” she said.
“Without consultation there will be no FDI. This was assured by then finance ninister Pranab Mukherjee,” Banerjee said.
The West Bengal chief minister also attacked the prime minister directly.
“Manmohan Singh is not a grassroot leader. He is a Rajya Sabha man. He and Planning Commission, deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia have no connection with the common man,” the Trinamool head said.
Strongly denying that her party was pro-FDI in multi-brand till recently as reported in the Business Standard, Banerjee said, “The Trinamool never supported FDI in retail. It was never on the stand Trinamool website. The media has stopped cross-checking.”
Attempting to put the pass the buck on the media, she said, “They are doing it for the advertisement money of Rs 100 crore.”
Banerjee also refused to take the blame for quitting the alliance.
“I sent a message to (Congress president) Sonia Gandhi on 14 and 17 September. I requested her through a SMS not to break the alliance. But she never responded. Sonia did not try to contact me,” the Trinamool chief said.
Banerjee also denied of having any missed calls either from the Prime Minister or Finance Minister.
“I never made up my mind to leave the alliance. That’s wrong to say. That’s why I waited for five-six days,” she said, adding that the Trinamool gave ample time for the Congress to ponder.
“In West Bengal, they broke the alliance. They even wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker to change the seats of the TMC MPs,” Banerjee said.
Labelling corruption charge against the Congress, she said, “Parliament is not functioning for whom? It is because of the corruption by the ruling party. FDI in retail is to divert attention from Coalgate. Congress is of the corrupt, for the corrupt and by the corrupt.”
The Trinamool chief also went to the extent of charging the Centre of snooping into the party.
“The government has begun monitoring my party’s I-T files. Congress is using money, muscle and mafia power,” she said.
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