TMC pitches for federal front with no BJP links,but is silent on Cong ties

Earlier this year,TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had given the call for a federal front,around the time that the JD(U) walked out of the NDA as the BJP picked Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to lead its campaign.

“It is clear that Narendra Modi is a personality who creates political polarisation. BJP and RSS workers may be happy at his elevation,but at the same time it will result in diminishing the strength of NDA constituents… As a result,even if the BJP is able to increase its own share of seats,the NDA strength will not go up,” writes Roy.

“It is in this context that one has to seek the answers to the political formations in the post-2014 Lok Sabha polls,” writes Roy,adding that the third front will include TMC,JD(U),BJD,AIADMK,SP,BSP and TDP. “The YSR Congress may join later. Similarly,the TRS is also keen to join this front,” he writes,adding that while the writing on the wall is not very clear yet,the call for a federal front is a timely step.

“It is being said that the federal front will have a crisis of leadership. I do not think so. Because the leaders of most of the regional outfits are functioning as chief ministers and would not like to leave their seats. In 1996,there was trouble finding a leader. After V P Singh and Jyoti Basu turned down the requests to take over the prime ministership,H D Deve Gowda was persuaded… It is true that the federal front’s choice of a leader would have to be someone who would be able to tackle conflicting egos. To achieve this,the regional parties should start talking now and draft a common minimum programme,” writes Roy.

When contacted,Roy said he did not consult Mamata Banerjee before writing the article,but added that he had only enunciated the party’s stand. Asked about the anti-BJP line,Roy said the Congress may not emerge as a major force in 2014. He said the federal front,with about 230 seats,may form a government without the Congress and BJP.

Top TMC sources said the articles published in the mouthpiece were cleared by Banerjee and the editorial board.

Former CPI(M) MP Md Selim,however,pointed out that Roy is known as a “pro-Congress element within the TMC”. “I would rather say that the TMC is keeping all its options,including the BJP,open as the party supremo has not uttered any strong opposition to either the BJP or Modi so far,” he said.