Mamata Banerjee keeps up fire, Congress stands firm
Chances of the ruling Congress party and the TMC patching up dimmed Wednesday with the Congress Core Group deciding against giving in to TMC pressure to reverse last week’s reform announcements while Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee launched a new, scathing attack against her estranged ally.
The two sides also indulged in harsh finger-pointing over the lack of communication between them leading up to the TMC pulling out of the UPA on Tuesday. Congress leaders said they tried several times to speak to Banerjee and keep her informed about the reform announcements. The West Bengal Chief Minister hit back sharply saying no one got in touch with her or her party and accused the Congress of launching a disinformation campaign.
Congress sources said the party leadership was “fed up” with Banerjee’s “arm-twisting tactics” that had paralysed UPA-II and was determined not to give in to her any more. “With SP and BSP support, the government is stable. Besides, we have reasons to believe that in the event of a no-confidence motion in Parliament, even the Left will stay away from voting. Numbers are not an issue at all,” a senior Congress leader told The Indian Express.
Party sources also said the government is determined to push through more reforms in the Winter session of Parliament, which would become easier with the TMC out of government. “In the next six months, we will change public perception about UPA-II. We will then be prepared for any eventuality,” said another senior Congress leader.
While the government asserted that
