Coordination panel idea stuck on Mamata

Even as the Congress is not ruling out the possibility of setting up a UPA coordination mechanism to address coalition partner Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjees grievances

Even as the Congress is not ruling out the possibility of setting up a UPA coordination mechanism to address coalition partner Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjees grievances against its alleged unilateral decisions on major issues,sources claim that it is the Bengal Chief Ministers intransigence that is proving to be an obstacle.

It is not as that the Congress did not keep the TMC in loop over decisions on Teesta river water sharing,FDI in retail,and Lokpal Bill. However,the TMCs position during the all-party meeting on Lokpal turned out to be at variance with its position on the issue in the Rajya Sabha8230;This raises doubts whether the TMC will stand on its commitment in any mechanism outside the government, confided a senior Congress functionary.

Any coordination panel will work out from Delhi while Mamata is based at Kolkata. This,too,is likely to be a challenge,say Congress functionaries pointing out it is unclear whether or not the TMC chief would like any of her party colleagues to represent her in the coordination panel. On another level,Congress leaders voice their apprehensions on whether her representative in the panel can give a guarantee that the TMCs position will not change later under the influence of the Writers Building at Kolkata.

We have faced situations that raise these questions. The government had consulted her on Teesta agreement,briefed her on FDI in retail. She did not object to the proposed moves in as many words as the TMC did after the decisions were made public. How can a TMC representative guarantee to abide by its position presented in the coordination panel? asked a senior Congress leader.

No wonder,the Congress has not yet proceeded to institute a UPA coordination panel despite having indicated to the TMC its willingness to hold pre-consultation on issues where Mamatas party is likely to have a different point of view. The government had given this indication to TMC leaders at a meeting of UPA during the uproar over FDI in retail sector. With the government wanting to re-open the issue this year,the UPA has to again get past the objections from the TMC. Given that the Opposition has used TMCs intransigence on FDI in retail and Lokpal to its advantage against the government,the Congress is willing to work out a mechanism to assuage Mamatas concerns.

In fact,the TMCs recent belligerence against the Congress does not help the grand old party at a time when Assembly polls are about to take place in five states. Though Congress sources say that the UPA plans to formulate a coordination panel after the conclusion of Assembly polls,they admit that if Mamata insists,the party may move ahead even during these elections.