Both the Congress and the Trinamool are looking to President-in-waiting Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to West Bengal on June 23-24 to bring about a thaw in the frozen relations between the two parties.
Both the Congress and the Trinamool are looking to President-in-waiting Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to West Bengal on June 23-24 to bring about a thaw in the frozen relations between the two parties.
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“Mukherjee has appealed to Mamata Banerjee. He is likely to visit West Bengal shortly and may meet Banerjee. We earnestly hope both leaders meet and Banerjee melts,” said Shakeel Ahmed, AICC functionary in charge of West Bengal, on the phone.
With former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who was Banerjee’s choice, out of the race for presidency, the Trinamool chief made it clear on Monday she was in no mood for a confrontation with the Congress.
“If Pranabda and Didi meet, the ice may melt,” a Trinamool Congress MP said.
Ravik Bhattacharya is assistant editor of Hindustan Times. He has spent over 16 years in journalism covering political, trafficking, crime and human rights issues in various parts of India.