New Delhi:
The Prime Minister will discuss financial packages for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at a meeting of top officials today. The timing of the meeting is piquant - the Presidential elections are now about a week away, and both states are ruled by parties that have pledged support to the ruling UPA's candidate, Pranab Mukherjee.
Not on the list of states for which financial packages will be discussed today is West Bengal, which is ruled by UPA ally Trinamool Congress, with the Congress a junior partner in government.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has for months been demanding a big financial bailout for her debt-ridden state, making several trips to Delhi, but has been unable to get it. This is an issue that has played a big role in her sulk with the Centre; she has steadfastly refused to voice support for Mr Mukherjee's candidacy and has kept everyone guessing where her party's 4.3 per cent votes in the electoral college will go when the Presidential elections are held on July 19.
Bihar is ruled by the NDA; the BJP in fact partners the Janata Dal (United) in government. But Nitish Kumar's JD(U) has broken ranks with the rest of the NDA on the issue of the Presidential Elections, backing Mr Mukherjee instead of the official NDA candidate, Purno Sangma.
Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party rules the big state of UP. Mr Yadav gave the Congress some heart-in-the-mouth moments in the weeks before Mr Mukherjee's candidacy was announced. He appeared alongside Mamata Banerjee to suggest a list of three names for President; the list did not include Mr Mukherjee's name, but in a huge embarrassment for the Congress, it had Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's name, seeming to suggest that allies had lost confidence in his leadership as PM.
The Congress was more foxed at good friend Mulayam Singh's betrayal than at ally Mamata Banerjee causing trouble as usual. But all was well soon as Mr Yadav detached himself from Ms Banerjee's side and duly voiced support for Mr Mukherjee's candidacy. Last week, when Mr Mukherjee visited the UP capital of Lucknow, the Samajawadi Party laid out the red carpet to welcome its candidate.