This Article is From May 09, 2014

In Ma-ma-ta, First M for Mamata, Next for Modi: Rahul Gandhi

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addresses an election campaign rally in Kolkata on Thursday.

Kolkata/Debra, West Bengal: Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee have spent the last few weeks exchanging allegations, with the West Bengal chief minister also throwing in some unkind epithets, but the Congress' Rahul Gandhi says he sees a new partnership in the making.

He had a political explanation for his prediction and one quite not so. "If you spell Mamataji's name, you will find Ma-ma-ta. The first M is Mamata and the next M is Modi. A partnership is brewing," the Congress vice president said at a rally in Kolkata. (Watch video here)

He also pointed out that Ms Banerjee has previously been a partner of the BJP when the National Democratic Alliance was in power at the Centre. (After Calling Modi a 'Donkey', Mamata Now Calls Him 'Danga Babu')

Through his speech, he blew hot and blew cold about Ms Banerjee, who walked out of the Congress-led UPA two years ago, also ending a partnership in the state. Mr Gandhi called that a betrayal.

Recalling that his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi shared a good rapport with Ms Banerjee, Rahul said, "I have immense respect for Mamataji. She had worked with my father. Whatever I say against her is out of respect and affection and not out of anger. Later on she left the Congress, and then forged an alliance with it, but after coming to power she betrayed it."

He attacked her over the Saradha chit fund scam that had left hundreds of small investors bereft of their life savings last year, alleging that her Trinamool Congress government was trying to save those who were involved in the scandal.

"Mamataji had fought against the Left regime; she had fought against corruption then. But after coming to power, the Saradha chit fund scam occurred in which lakhs of people were looted...The state government should have taken action, but it kept mum," he said.

Opinion polls say the BJP is likely to get the maximum seats in the national elections, but might need to find allies post-elections to get a majority in parliament. Ms Banerjee has so far ruled out supporting a government led by Mr Modi.
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