Kolkata:
When P Chidambaram was asked if Mamata Banerjee had discussed bringing forward the Assembly polls in Bengal, he had avoided a direct answer. But not Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
"It's a Constitutional provision; it's not a party matter. Trinamool Congress has demanded earlier polls because the ruling party has lost successive elections. That's the rationality of demanding. But it is basically a Constitutional problem. The Election Commission has to decide," Pranab said.
Mukherjee wouldn't say if the Congress shared Mamata's views but his comment comes after the Left's drubbing in the civic polls and after Mamata made abundantly clear that she now wants early Assembly elections.
"We don't want President's Rule or dismissal of this government. But we want early elections. It is within the prerogative of Constitutional obligations. Within six months, the Election Commission, if they decide, they can go for early elections," Mamata had said.
The Bengal Assembly's term ends on May 12. The Election Commission can call polls any time in the six months leading to that date, which is November 13. The CPM doesn't want early polls but its concurrence may not be needed.