Mamata wanted talks on manifesto as INDIA bloc charts future course

MUMBAI: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee raised the issue of finalising a manifesto quickly for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, or INDIA, bloc during the two-day meeting of the group in Mumbai, leaders familiar with the matter said, suggesting that the slow pace on certain fronts, including seatsharing, irked her.

The West Bengal chief minister and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee were not a part of the joint press conference, raising speculation that all was not well within the Opposition alliance.

The TMC, however, said it was a scheduling issue.

People familiar with the matter said that, in the meeting, Mamata suggested that a manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls be prepared quickly to take it the people, but the proposal did not find much support from other parties at this stage. She later insisted that a mini agenda be prepared so that the election campaign can be launched on October 2, which is the birth anniversary of mahatma Gandhi.The TMC also wanted seatsharing talks to be taken up sooner, one of the leaders said.

But it was not a major issue, other leaders said, adding that there were no larger or unresolvable issues.

On the whole, these leaders said, the INDIA bloc has now set some clear objectives, and parleys and preparations at the state and national levels will now dominate the group's road map over the next two months.

The deft handling by the bigger parties will be essential to take along more than 15 smaller outfits that are part of the 28party alliance, two senior leaders said, asking not to be named.