The Hindu : Trinamool upset with BJP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 09, 2002

Other States

Other States - West Bengal

Trinamool upset with BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

Kolkata July 8. The Trinamool Congress appears to be upset with the BJP leadership for not yet setting up a review committee on the Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar's proposal to bifurcate the Eastern Railways.

Most of the Trinamool functionaries think that unless the committee is formed in the next few days, the party will find it difficult to sustain its campaign against Mr.Kumar's decision to split the Eastern and South-Eastern Railways.

The Trinamool leader, Mamata Banerjee, who is spearheading a campaign against the bifurcation issue, is reported to be of the view that a Central announcement of a review would not only save her from conducting a high-voltage campaign involving the neighbouring Bihar and Orissa, but also pave the way for her to rejoin the Vajpayee Cabinet.

It is said that a majority of the Trinamool functionaries feel that Ms. Banerjee ``blundered'' by raising the banner of revolt on the bifurcation issue knowing full well that she does not have the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, on her side.

Mr. Advani is on record opposing the idea of offering her the Railway portfolio, which Ms. Banerjee is keen on bagging.

According to observers, Mr. Advani further embarrassed Ms. Banerjee when he invited her arch-rival in Bengal politics, the Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, to New Delhi for talks on the bifurcation issue. The Trinamool, meanwhile, has boycotted the all-party delegation from the State Assembly, saying it would not meet the Railway Minister on the bifurcation issue. It would only meet the Prime Minister. Ms. Banerjee will participate in the anti-bifurcation campaign from tomorrow.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

Jyoti Basu turns 89

Controversy surrounds death of excise inspector

Trinamool upset with BJP