Mamata downplays Anna's absence at Jantantra rally

Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday rubbished rumours that her rally at Ramlila ground becoming a damp squib as it had few takers with Anna giving it a miss. She also clarified the fact that this rally was jointly proposed by her party and Anna Hazare.

"This rally was not a TMC rally per se, it was programme which was jointly proposed by Anna Hazare and TMC. Although, there were few flags of TMC here and there as carried by some supporters of the party. There were few headcounts at the rally as this was not supposed to be a political one, hence, you did not see droves of people, as the essence of this rally was to be a social one, which had Anna's blessings," Banerjee said.

Mamata tried to play safe when she was asked on Anna ditching her by not attending in her rally.

"We understand his (Anna Hazare) inability for not being able to attend the rally as he (Anna Hazare) was not keeping well today and we have full faith on him. I am thankful to him for endorsing me. We have no grievances against Anna for not attending this rally as he (Anna Hazare) is an elderly person. We came here with the belief of spreading love and we will go back home with love as well," TMC chief added.

Mamata said that her party has plans to fight outside West Bengal and hence they have put up candidates across several states and more will follow.

"We are going to fight in many states and hence we have declared our list of candidates from West Bengal, Tripura, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and even from Jharkhand where few candidates name has been decllared while the rest will be announced soon." Banerjee said.

"Our fight has always been alone not in other states but in West Bengal as well, it doesn't matter much as who stands besides us or not. "TMC chief said.

Following Anna's last-minute withdrawal, the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee addressed Trinamool Congress rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.