Hazare to campaign for TMC in LS polls

Rules out support for Arvind Kejriwal

In the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Wednesday shed his apolitical image and publicly lent support to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, hailing her as the only “simple, clean, honest” leader in the country.

Hazare also snubbed his former protégé and Aam Aadmi Party leader, Arvind Kejriwal. For Banerjee, Hazare’s backing was a much-needed boost to her image and that of her Bengal-based party on the national political arena, pitching her even for the Prime Minister’s post. As Hazare himself underlined, “Should she ( Mamata) bag 100 seats, bringing in change in the country will be much easier under her leadership.”

He made clear that he would be campaigning for the TMC in the coming polls. Hazare showered praise on Mamata Banerjee for her simple lifestyle and frugal habits, “living in a small house despite being a chief minister”, her political struggles despite being physically assaulted and championing the common man’s issues.

 

Outlining his roadmap Hazare said, “In 2019 elections we will put up 100 independent candidates across the country and I will tour the country for the next five years to work on it.”

Questioned about his preference for Banerjee over anti- graft crusader Arvind Kejriwal, Hazare said, “I had written a letter with my 17-point demands to political parties. Didi (Banerjee) responded to it and agreed to implement it. I had also sent a letter to Arvind Kejriwal, but he did not respond to it. So there is no question of supporting him.”

At the joint press conference held at Constitution Club, when Anna Hazare was asked how he could extend support to this (West Bengal ) state government where the Lokayukta was lying defunct, chief minister Mamata Banerjee hurriedly intervened to lambaste the reporter whom she alleged as having “political biases”. Then Banerjee went onto add that, “The Lokpal bill which was cleared only recently, gives states one year’s time to implement it.”

Banerjee also took strong offence to the suggestion that she could align with BJP in the future as its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had heaped praises on her. “I will not support the Congress or the BJP,” Banerjee shot back.