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Mamata seeks Advani's help

By Malabika Bhattacharya

KOLKATA, FEB. 2. The Trinamool Congress chief and Coal and Mines Minister, Mamata Banerjee, is taking the initiative to improve her relations with the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani.

Faced with an acute funds crunch, increasing internal bickering and ambitious colleagues, Ms. Banerjee is trying to get the BJP's central leadership to help her tide over the rigours of the parliamentary elections.

As of now, Ms. Banerjee's pleas are keeping the State BJP happy and supportive of her and making the BJP president, Venkaiah Naidu, and others appreciative of her requirements which also include getting prominent BJP leaders to campaign for her. According to officials of the two parties, the Prime Minister, Atal Bihai Vajpayee, has committed himself to a public meeting in Kolkata's Brigade Parade Grounds some time in February and efforts are on to get Mr. Advani to attend it.

Having just announced the pre-poll bounties worth Rs. 10,000 crores in terms of coal and related projects for Bengal, Ms. Banerjee is now keen on having the proposed multi-speciality hospital for coal employees and their families (built on the model of All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi) flagged off by Mr.Advani.

Trinamool officials claim that Mr. Advani may agree to lay the foundation for the hospital for which the Kolkata Municipal Corporation now run by Ms. Banerjee's party has identified a plot of land. At this point, it is not sure that land will fit the bill because it is currently occupied by a group of cultivators who have refused to part with it.

Ms. Banerjee's immediate objective is to ensure the success of the 12-hour bandh she has called for tomorrow. The minority Muslim community has criticised the bandh as it comes in conflict with its celebrations of Id from today.

The State BJP has failed to have the bandh deferred till a later date.

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