'Trinamool should accept NDA norms for re-entry'

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, AUG.17. The BJP president, Mr. Jana Krishnamurthi, said here on Friday that even if Ms. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress rejoined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the West Bengal unit of the BJP and the Trinamool would be free to function separately.

At a news conference here, Mr. Krishnamurthi said the Trinamool's re-entry into the NDA would not necessarily mean that the BJP and the Trinamool would have to forge an alliance in West Bengal. ``The NDA is a Central arrangement. It's not binding on the Trinamool or any other party to tie up with the alliance partner at the State level.''

The MDMK, a partner of the NDA, had remained outside the DMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu during the last Assembly election. In certain States, the alliance partners had tied up with ``parties of their choice.'' He, however, made it clear that the West Bengal BJP's reservations about the Trinamool would not be taken into account by the BJP's Central leadership when he said that ``such policy decisions are taken by the Central executive and the State units do not have a say.'' The Trinamool was required to accept the norms to be laid down by the NDA as a precondition to her rejoining the alliance.

``The BJP welcomes any party wanting to forge an alliance with the NDA. But, it will have to adhere to certain norms.''

Mr. Krishnamurthi also did not rule out the possibility of the Trinamool rejoining the Cabinet soon and said that it was the Prime Minister's prerogative. ``Entry into the NDA does not mean automatic induction into the Cabinet. However, it's the Prime Minister's prerogative.''

He, denied the Opposition charge that the party was attempting to saffronise education, saying the Communists, ``have no right to comment'' on the issue.

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