Cong says no mid-term polls, BJP endorses Mamata claim

The Congress today refuted West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that parliamentary elections will be held ahead of schedule while the BJP said that the Trinamool chief should get rid of the UPA government. BJP welcomes Mamata's comments on early election

The Congress on Saturday refuted West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that parliamentary elections will be held ahead of schedule while the BJP said that the Trinamool chief should get rid of the UPA government.

"I have not gone through the statement by Banerjee but one thing is clear: UPA-II (United Progressive Alliance) will complete its term and elections will be held on schedule (in 2014)," Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.

"There is no question of any mid-term poll. The Manmohan Singh-led government will complete its full term. I can specifically say the (next Lok Sabha) election will be held as per schedule," he said.

He added: "If any political group talks to its workers about mid-term (election), it is their internal matter."

Trinamool Congress supremo Banerjee on Friday claimed she has information that a political party in Delhi had held a meeting to advance the Lok Sabha polls to 2013 and asked her partymen to be ready for it.

"Anyday, we can face election. We have to remain ready," she said.

"One party has held a meeting to hold the election in advance, though my information may not be correct," Banerjee told a meeting of Trinamool Congress without naming the party.

"I have got the information. I am not going into details as to who were at the meeting. They deliberated on advancing the Lok Sabha election to 2013," she said.