Non-Cong states seek greater convergence in NCTC battle

Chief ministers of non-Congress-ruled states have decided to show ?greater convergence? in their protest against the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) even as Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar was the latest to write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against the move.

Top sources in the opposition told FE that there would be more ?convergence and co-ordination? between the BJP chief ministers and CMs of non-BJP-ruled states on the matter.

The BJP is in touch Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa through senior leaders LK Advani and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. Some senior BJP leaders are in touch with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee and Nitish Kumar are also said to be talking on the matter. ?There is definitely a lot of talk that is happening and this is a political development, which the BJP is taking very seriously,? said a senior party leader.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, however, is keeping his cards close to his chest, talking instead of a Third Front with non-Congress, non-BJP chief ministers taking on the Centre on the NCTC issue, to begin with.

Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, is arriving in Delhi for a two-day visit. Banerjee is in town ostensibly to attend a family wedding, but has been pencilled in for an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday afternoon.

?The only appointment confirmed at this point is with the PM,? said an aide of Banerjee. Banerjee, while retaining some ties with the JD(U) and meeting some BJP leaders in Kolkata, has made it clear, however, that she didn’t want any photo-ops with the opposition party leaders while in Delhi.

?She will be discussing the special financial package for West Bengal with the Prime Minister and this is the first meeting they’ve had after her party’s opposition to foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail,? said the aide.

In the backdrop of the Uttar Pradesh elections and its implications for the Centre, these latest moves by the BJP and non-Congress chief ministers assumes great significance.