Didi snubs Pranab Mukherjee again

After Mukherjee was told about her response,feelers were sent through top government functionaries saying that the Finance Minister is very keen to have her on board since the intended beneficiaries are the core constituency of the Congress-led UPA.

However,Banerjee is believed to have conveyed that she is busy with the bypolls,scheduled on September 25,and will be able to spare time only after the Durga Puja.

This is not the first time in recent months that Banerjee has refused Mukherjee,especially since she has been bargaining for a substantial financial package.

Mukherjee had asked for a replacement of his private secretary Manoj Pant,who is moving to World Bank. He wanted 2002-batch IAS officer Soumitra Mohan,who is posted as the District Magistrate of Birbhum in Bengal,to replace Pant. However,Banerjee refused to relieve Mohan saying that she has a shortage of IAS officers in the state,and that instead of asking for officers,Mukherjee should send more officials to Bengal.

It is believed that since Mukherjees son Abhijit was elected to the Bengal Assembly from Birbhum,the CM suspected that Mukherjee wanted to reward the DM with a Central posting for helping Abhijit during the polls. Hence,she issued orders transferring Mohan to Darjeeling.

Sources said Mukherjee and Banerjee,who were earlier on amicable terms,have not been on talking terms recently,and the relation has deteriorated since the CM refused to accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Dhaka.