The Hindu : President's rule best option: Mamata

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 21, 2002

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President's rule best option: Mamata

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA APRIL 20. The Trinamool Congress leader, Mamata Banerjee, appears to be distancing herself further from the Telugu Desam leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, as "chances of her re-induction into the Vajpayee Government is becoming brighter by the day."

Ms. Banerjee, who left for New Delhi in the evening after leading an anti-Left procession here, said she was only demanding the imposition of President's rule in riot-torn Gujarat. She also made clear to Mr. Naidu that she would vote in favour of the BJP-run NDA Government at the Centre even if his party decided otherwise.

Ms. Banerjee later told a rally that she was certain that the formula she had carefully drawn up to end the Gujarat crisis would be acceptable to all the NDA partners. "I am sure that the idea of imposing President's rule in Gujarat would be appreciated by all (NDA partners), including the Telugu Desam.'' She would discuss the formula with the Prime Minister as well as the other NDA constituents.

Ms. Banerjee scotched speculation that she might join hands with Sonia Gandhi on the Gujarat issue, saying she would not associate herself with the Congress which had become "communist-friendly". Describing the Congress as the "communists' B-team", she said that its leaders looked comfortable in the company of communists.

"The Congress backstabbed Trinamool during the last Assembly poll. We will not align ourselves with it again,'' she announced.

Ms. Banerjee today criss-crossed Kolkata leading what she called a "maha-michhil'' or grand procession with the party functionaries and workers drawn from across Bengal. Addressing a rally, she spoke about secularism, the "CPI(M)-sponsored terrorism" and the coming panchayat elections in the State.

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