Hazare to meet Mamata, Trinamool says will campaign for party

Praising Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, social activist Anna Hazare Thursday said he will meet her in Delhi Feb 18 to decide how they can cooperate while the party claimed he has decided to campaign for them in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

"I will meet Mamata. We will have detailed talks. We will decide the road we will take," Hazare told media persons at his village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra after meeting Trinamool general secretary Mukul Roy.

A post on the Trinamool website said the two would hold talks Feb 18 to "discuss the modalities of the election campaign".

The website also prominently displayed the anti-corruption crusader's photograph.

Lauding Banerjee, Hazare said: "She lives in a 10 by 12 room, wears hawai chappals, she does not have a car."

"I feel a ray of hope. If people stand beside such people, not much time will be taken for change the country. I want to say that after 66 years of Independence, nobody has thought of changing the economic system, but Mamataji has thought about it," said the 76-year-old activist.

Hazare said he had sent a 17-point suggestion to all political parties about pro-people policies and asked them whether they would implement it if they came to power. None but Banerjee replied.

Roy said he conveyed to Hazare how much respect Banerjee had for him. "Anna is a senior persons. He will speak to Mamata. The two will decide how they will go forward".

The Trinamool Congress supremo has made clear time and again her intentions to play a decisive role in the centre after the general elections.

She has given the call for a Federal Front of regional parties which "would play a crucial role in forming the next government".

The Trinamool is set to contest seats outside the state. Banerjee would also campaign in states apart from West Bengal.

The Congress, however, scoffed at any understanding between Banerjee and Anna.

"It will be a big joke if Anna Hazare joins hands with Mamata. Earlier Anna used to say he will not join politics, but, after watching Arvind Kejriwal, he too now seems to be growing a desire.

"Nobody has been able to walk along with Mamata so we will wait and watch how Anna manages to do so," the party's newly appointed state chief Adhir Chowdhury said, addressing a rally here.

He said Banerjee was now thinking of becoming the prime minister.

"She will not hesitate in seeking help from anybody to further her ambition. Only those who do not believe in themselves seek the help of others," he added.