Trinamool in snub-Cong mode

The Trinamool Congress, touted as a valuable ally of the Congress-led UPA, seems to be determined to snub the party.

Trinamool this evening sent a first-time member of Parliament, Rathna De Nag, instead of a senior leader, as its representative to the prime minister’s crucial dinner for allies. If that was not enough, the Centre will also have to deal with a Trinamool Congress (TMC) dharna in Parliament on March 15 against the government’s “continued discrimination” against West Bengal, which has been demanding a financial package.

The TMC parliamentary party on Tuesday decided to organise a one-hour protest a day before the Budget.

The TMC has also demanded the deletion of a reference to the proposed National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) from President Pratibha Patil’s address in Parliament yesterday. Several parties and states, foremost among them West Bengal, have opposed the Centre’s NCTC idea, alleging that it was an attack on federalism.

The TMC is also likely to dash the Congress’ hopes of having a Rajya Sabha member from West Bengal. The Congress, with its 42 MLAs in the eastern state, was hoping its ally will vote for its candidate, but reports say the TMC is likely to turn down the request.

Such an inimical climate has generated stories of growing relations between the TMC and the much-strengthened Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. UP chief minister-designate Akhilesh Yadav has extended Banerjee an invitation for his swearing-in function. The TMC is sending its senior leader and MoS Tourism Sultan Ahmed as its representative.

According to TMC sources, the young Yadav had assured the Banerjee that he would personally visit her in Kolkata. While the TMC continues to flex its muscles over a host of issues, the UPA will be able to do little. This is because the TMC chief is most likely to have her way even in the upcoming crucial Railway Budget.

On financial aid, Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, has continued to maintain that the Centre had not given the state “any financial package despite the coffers being empty” after 36 years of Left rule. The Congress has repeatedly refuted this claim.