Congress alleges secret BJP-TMC nexus after Modi's Mamata praise

KOLKATA: Questioning the 'certificates' given to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by her Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi, the Congress today wondered if there was a secret "nexus" between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.

"What is the actual purpose of Modi's visit to Kolkata and why is Mamata Banerjee away? Whatever it may be, we feel there is a nexus between the two parties," WBPCC President Pradip Bhattacharya said.

"There is no visible basis for praising the Mamata Banerjee government. Can we take it that this political overture will gradually pave the way for Mamata Banerjee to take to the NDA line?" Bhattacharya questioned.

He said Narendra Modi "gave certificates to Mamata Banerjee for her government's performance which is uncalled for at a time when everybody condemns it for non-performance.

The PCC demanded that the chief minister immediately react to Modi's praise and said "if no reaction is forthcoming, we will term it as a deep-rooted political equation."

The PCC president claimed that Modi's statement differed sharply with that of the state BJP, "which is opposed to the Mamata Banerjee government's policies and programmes."

Bhattacharya dismissed Modi's charge of discrimination against non-UPA states by the Centre, saying that it was a ploy to cover up a state's failure.

"In the past Jyoti Basu did it and now Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is doing the same," he said.

Yesterday, Banerjee had alleged that the Centre had imposed an economic blockade on West Bengal and she was going to Delhi to protest against it and seek justice.

CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose said it would be unusual if Modi did not pat Banerjee, who sent him flowers on his victory.