Kolkata, May 12 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has hinted at the possibility of general parliamentary elections being held as early as 2013, and urged her party workers to be prepared for it. However later today party spokesman Derek tweeted that Mamata would like to see the UPS complete its term.
Asserting that she had information that general elections could be held within a year, Banerjee said that the masses have to be taken into confidence prior to the polls.
“We have to take the masses in confidence and also democratic system. Please do not underestimate the elections. I have information that there was meeting on holding the general elections early. A certain party has discussed this within itself. Though my information may not be positive, I have got this information,” said Banerjee.
“The meeting took place in New Delhi. I will not disclose who attended it and when. They said they could call for elections in 2013. I am saying this for only one reason, that is, we can face election any day now.
We have to be ready for the elections. I will not do anything due to which people misunderstand us,” she added. Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Brinda Karat on Saturday said there is no question of a mid-term poll in the country, and termed it to be an internal matter of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the ruling Congress Party.
“From where does the question of mid-term polls arise. We read about it in the media. What Mamatiji will say when we have no idea about it? Its better you talk to her party workers (TMC party workers) or people from the Congress,” she said.
Expressing surprise over Banerjee’s ideas, Karat said: “I don’t know from where this particular thing came to Mamataji’s mind. And from whom did she receive this news, only Mamataji and the Congress can know about it. We don’t have any information about this. What Mamataji is saying her party workers will understand? There is no need for us to comment anything on it.”
Congress Party earlier today played down Banerjee’s claim, saying if the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief has told anything to her party workers then it is an internal party matter.
Dismissing the reports, Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) 2 will complete its full term and the elections will be held in 2014 as scheduled.
“As far as the mid-term (polls) are concerned, UPA 2 would complete its tenure. The general election will be held in 2014 as scheduled. I can very specifically say that there is no question of mid-term elections taking place,” he said.
Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress (TMC) is a key ally of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre has since the past few months kept the Centre on tenterhooks on various issues of national and regional concern, such as price rise and the proposal to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mamata-raises-repoll-issue-congress-left-rule-out-possibility/
