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This is an archive article published on February 20, 1999

In new-found sorority, Mamata says Jaya’s an `elder sister’

CHENNAI, FEB 19: Trinamul Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, who only a few months ago had demanded that the BJP dump its `unpredictable' a...

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CHENNAI, FEB 19: Trinamul Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, who only a few months ago had demanded that the BJP dump its `unpredictable’ ally, the AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha from the alliance, was today effusive with her compliments for `madam’. “Jayalalitha is a very nice person,” Mamata concluded after the one-hour meeting she had with the AIADMK leader in Chennai.

It may be recalled that Jayalalitha had criticised Mamata a few months ago for disclosing to the media that the AIADMK leader had allegedly brought up her Income-Tax problems during one of the co-ordination committee meetings.

But any animosity the fire-brand politician from West Bengal may have shown to Jayalalitha in the past seems to have dissipated after her meeting with the AIADMK leader, whom she referred to as “elder sister” and as a person she was “eager to follow”.

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“We have a very good relationship. We want to build it up,” she told reporters. When scribes wanted to know the reason for the sudden bonhomie, she shot back, “If I don’t come, how will the relationship be built up. There has to be continuous interaction.”

Stating that they discussed many developments, Mamata said, “I invited her for my programme in Calcutta and she also invited me for a programme she is organising in Coimbatore.” Mamata added enthusiastically, “She is nice. I appreciate what she is doing.”

“Nowadays important ladies play a very vital role in the country which should be appreciated,” she added.

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