Mamata's federal front call a joke, says CPI-M

The CPI-M Wednesday dubbed Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee's call for a federal front a "joke" and said her asking non-Congress and non-BJP regional parties to form a front for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls would be a damp squib.

"This is a joke. Since when has she (West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee) become federal? She is a unitary. When did she stand for federal structures?" CPI-M leader Suryakanta Mishra said here.

Two days after urging all non-Congress and non-BJP regional parties to form a federal front for next year's Lok Sabha elections, Banerjee Wednesday said she had spoken to Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U leader Nitish Kumar and Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik, who reacted positively to her proposal.

"She was with the BJP-led NDA as well as the Congress-led UPA. I don't know with who she will ally now. She is saying all this as a bargaining chip. Who will answer her call?" Mishra said.

"Jodi tor dak sune keu na ashe" (If they do not answer your call, then walk alone) is her favourite song. I wonder whether she would not have to sing the song again," Misha said.

Banerjee met Janata Dal-United leader K.C. Tyagi at the state secretariat Wednesday afternoon.

"I made an appeal through Facebook for setting up a non-Congress and non-BJP federal front. I have already discussed the matter with Naveen Patnaik and Nitish Kumar. They have responded positively," Banerjee said after her talks with Tyagi.

Banerjee said some other leaders also deliberated with her on the matter. "We will meet at an appropriate time."

Tyagi, who called his visit a "courtesy call", said "both the UPA and the BJP have failed".