Kolkata:
A day after she stirred a controversy by hinting at mid-term polls and asking her party workers to prepare for the same, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata today, in a U-turn of sorts, said that she would be happy to see the government last its full term.
"Mamata Banerjee to me a few minutes ago:"Let me clear the half truths being reported...I would be happy to see UPA 2 last its full term," tweeted Trinamool leader Derek O'Brien.
The change in stance came a day after Ms Banerjee had, at a party meeting on Friday, said that she had information about a political party in Delhi having convened a meeting to advance the Lok Sabha polls to 2013 - a year ahead of schedule. Without naming the party in question, Ms Banerjee, who is also the Chief Minister of West Bengal, asked her party cadres to be ready for early elections.
"One party has held a meeting to hold the election in advance, though my information may not be correct. I have got the information. I am not going into details as to who were at the meeting. They deliberated on advancing the Lok Sabha election to 2013," Ms Banerjee had said. "Any day, we can face election. We have to remain ready," she had said.
The Congress, which has Ms Banerjee's party as a key partner in the UPA coalition at the Centre, dismissed any speculation generated by her statement.
"I have not gone through the statement by Ms Banerjee but one thing is clear...The Manmohan Singh-led government will complete its full term. I can specifically say the (next Lok Sabha) elections will be held as per schedule," Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, seized upon the opportunity, saying the current UPA government had become a burden on the nation, and that the general elections might happen as early as 2012.
"It is natural that the Manmohan Singh government has become a burden for the nation today. It will be good if Mamata Banerjee relieves the nation from this government. According to her, it is likely to happen in 2013, but I hope that it happens in 2012 itself, because if this government lasts for another minute, it wouldn't be right for this nation," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.
"Mamata Banerjee to me a few minutes ago:"Let me clear the half truths being reported...I would be happy to see UPA 2 last its full term," tweeted Trinamool leader Derek O'Brien.
The change in stance came a day after Ms Banerjee had, at a party meeting on Friday, said that she had information about a political party in Delhi having convened a meeting to advance the Lok Sabha polls to 2013 - a year ahead of schedule. Without naming the party in question, Ms Banerjee, who is also the Chief Minister of West Bengal, asked her party cadres to be ready for early elections.
"One party has held a meeting to hold the election in advance, though my information may not be correct. I have got the information. I am not going into details as to who were at the meeting. They deliberated on advancing the Lok Sabha election to 2013," Ms Banerjee had said. "Any day, we can face election. We have to remain ready," she had said.
The Congress, which has Ms Banerjee's party as a key partner in the UPA coalition at the Centre, dismissed any speculation generated by her statement.
"I have not gone through the statement by Ms Banerjee but one thing is clear...The Manmohan Singh-led government will complete its full term. I can specifically say the (next Lok Sabha) elections will be held as per schedule," Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, seized upon the opportunity, saying the current UPA government had become a burden on the nation, and that the general elections might happen as early as 2012.
"It is natural that the Manmohan Singh government has become a burden for the nation today. It will be good if Mamata Banerjee relieves the nation from this government. According to her, it is likely to happen in 2013, but I hope that it happens in 2012 itself, because if this government lasts for another minute, it wouldn't be right for this nation," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.
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