Buoyed, BJP claims success

The BJP believes an important gain was the consolidation of the NDA after the meeting at former PM Vajpayee8217;s house on Wednesday, followed by a meeting with President A P J Abdul Kalam next evening. The party now takes credit for persuading the President to talk to PM Manmohan Singh and before that with CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Jaitley agreed that the bigger purpose, however, was to put the Left on the defensive. In the Trinamool leader8217;s case, by pushing strongly for the cause8212;party president Rajnath Singh had taken the initiative to back Banerjee despite reservations within some quarters8212;it also succeeded in preventing her from moving towards the Congress.

Even on Thursday, as the Trinamool realised that Banerjee8217;s fast could not achieve more than it already had, it was the BJP that stepped in to provide a honourable end. Banerjee was in regular contact with the BJP president through the day. By evening appeals had come from the President and the PM apart from another written offer from the CM.

On Ratan Tata8217;s remark in an interview that the problems in Singur could have been instigated by corporate rivals, Jaitley said, 8220;Normally, the Tatas are known to be restrained in making remarks.8221;