New Delhi: The 'failed' rally at Ramlila ground in New Delhi on Wednesday gave a warning signal to Trinamul chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s plan to project the Federal Front. Even while the Trinamul on Wednesday released a list of 30 candidates for a number of states, the party leaders are divided on the plan to go national.
Even though Ms Banerjee claimed that the rally was organsied by the supporters of anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, the residence cum office of party leader Mukul Roy had turned into a 'war room' for weeks. Half a dozen Trinamul MPs were staying put at the “war room” to make the rally a success.
Still, the party could not attract support from the people in Delhi which signaled that there were few takers for the idea of Federal Front.
On Wednesday evening, Trinamul released a list of 30 candidates who will contest from various constituencies across the country. The list includes candidates from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Delhi, Assam among others. The party stated that it would release more lists in the coming days.
However, the party leaders cautioned that there was a lesson to be learnt from the flop show at Ramlila Ground. “We have bigger challenge to face in West Bengal. The impact of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s campaign impact could be seen in at least half a dozen Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. We have to be wary of the split of anti-Left votes also in the state,” a senior Trinamul functionary said.
But, Trinamul leaders admitted that Ms Banerjee may not seek a course correction and is all set to push ahead with her plan to go national.
“She is adamant that Trinamul should take a lead in forming the Federal Front. She has also got feelers from BJP chief and Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik and AIADMK supremo and, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalaitha,” added the Trinamul functionary.
