NEWS

Why is Mamata so adamant about the no-trust motion?

By A Correspondent
November 22, 2012

Political analysts are deciphering her desperation as Mamata Banerjee's last resort to fight several investigations launched by the Centre against her party colleagues and close aides.

Strongly opposing the United Progressive Alliance government's decision to introduce Foreign Direct Investment in the retail sector, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had remained adamant about moving a no-confidence motion against the ruling alliance, despite being isolated by the other Opposition parties over it.

She even said on Wednesday that she had no hesitation in supporting a no-trust motion moved by her sworn enemies, the Left parties.

'If necessary, I am even prepared to go to the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) state party headquarters in Alimuddin Street and talk to its secretary Biman Bose,' she had told reporters in Kolkata.

Political analysts are deciphering her desperation as Banerjee's last resort to fight against several investigations launched by the Centre against her party colleagues and close aides.

According to a report published in the most circulated Bengali daily newspaper Anandabazar Patrika, Banerjee is under pressure from a three-pronged investigation -- one initiated by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office against a company owned by the Trinamool Congress' Rajya Sabha member K D Singh; the second against various chit funds in West Bengal owned by individuals allegedly close to the Trinamool Congress party and the third started by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India to assess the railway ministry's income and expenditure under Trinamool Congress railways ministers (Banerjee, Dinesh Trivedi and Mukul Roy).

According to the Anandabazar Patrika report, the Centre is looking into various charges of 'partisan appointments' and 'illogical spending' exercised by the railways while it was held by ministers from the TMC party.

The Anandabazar Patrika report claims the Congress and the Left feel Banerjee is so eager to 'topple' the government as she wants to get rid of these investigations at any cost.

The central government has reportedly received several complaints against K D Singh's company.

Singh allegedly procured public funds by flouting norms laid down by the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Singh, however, denied these charges.

The Anandabazar Patrika report also says that SEBI has issued notices to several chit funds in West Bengal, following accusations that they have been wrongfully raising funds and using them to run media houses, newspapers etc.

These chit funds have appealed to SEBI to grant them some more time.

Time, for Banerjee, is running out fast and no one knows this better than the West Bengal chief minister.

A Correspondent in Kolkata

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