Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik dial down national alliance buzz, pitch for beefing up federal structure

Mamata said she “strongly supports and appreciates” Naveen’s view that the country’s federal structure should be strengthened. She said they also held discussion on the safety of nation and its people and democratic rights.

When asked whether there is a threat to the democratic or federal structures in the country, Mamata deflected the questions, saying her meeting with Naveen was a courtesy visit. “Something he may not support, something I may not support. When I will be alone, I can give answers to all the political questions,” she said.

On the question of forging a non-BJP, non-Congress alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC supremo said, “Elections are still a year away from now.”

Both the CMs also discussed issues of mutual interests, with Mamata maintaining that their neighbouring states maintain “good relationship” and enjoy a “golden legacy”.

On the request of the Bengal chamber of commerce, Mamata sought the Naveen government’s cooperation for supply of iron ore for her state’s industries. “An industrial corridor may be developed to boost our economy,” she said.

Wrapping up her three-day Odisha visit, Mamata called on Naveen before leaving for Kolkata. During their meeting, Odisha CM cleared the allocation of two acres of land at Puri for a Bengal government guest house for tourists coming from that state to offer puja at the Jagannath Temple.

The political circles were abuzz over their meeting as it took place days after Mamata’s meeting with SP president and ex-UP CM Akhilesh Yadav in Kolkata, following which the TMC camp and Akhilesh had announced that they will remain equidistant from both the BJP and the Congress and will continue to reach out to other regional parties for a national alliance.

However, prior to Mamata’s meeting with Naveen, the BJD camp had made it clear that it would not be “politically significant”, saying that the BJD is unlikely to be part of any national alliance before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as “it has no national ambition”.

“BJD is a regional party and more concerned about development of Odisha and welfare of its people. As stated by our leader on several occasions, the party does not have any national ambition. Hence, there is no question of being part of any alliance at the national level,” a senior BJD leader had then said.

Despite BJD’s policy of equidistance from both the BJP and the Congress, the party, with 12 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 9 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, has extended support to the Narendra Modi-led BJP government on several occasions – while passing crucial legislation, during the Presidential election or on other national issues.