BJP begins firefighting

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 20. The BJP today rushed to protect the Prime Minister's Office from the attack by its former ally, the Trinamool Congress, which has alleged in Kolkata that a communication received by it from Mr. Sudheendra Kulkarni in the PMO, was ``uncivilised''.

Mr. Kailashpati Mishra, BJP vice-president in-charge of West Bengal affairs, who is being to rushed to Kolkata tomorrow, clarified that he had sent the communication to the Trinamool chief, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, asking her to clarify the party's stand towards the NDA Government at the Centre. ``Our written proposal to the Trinamool Congress has been sent by me,'' Mr. Mishra said. ``The PMO had nothing to do with our party's communication to Ms. Banerjee.''

(According to PTI, Mr. Mishra would try to save the electoral alliance between the two parties in West Bengal by discussing the fallout of the Trinamool threat with the State unit leaders; he would then report the developments to the central leadership at the BJP national executive scheduled to meet in the capital from March 24.)

The BJP leaders confessed that they had virtually given Ms. Banerjee a 24-hour ultimatum, threatening to call off the seat adjustment with her in Bengal unless she agreed to support the NDA Government. But so far the BJP leaders have not made their stand clear - after the Trinamool rejection are they still in the mood to tie up with Ms. Banerjee? It seems that if the BJP wants the alliance it may have to eat the humble pie.

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