New Delhi, July 06: But the truth is that Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s announcement on Friday – during the budget presentation – that her ministry would bring out a “white paper on the organisational, operational and financial status (of the railways) based on last five years’ performance,” had the party’s blessings.
Banerjee’s proposal is seen in political circles as a move – both by her and the Congress – to tame Lalu Prasad, her predecessor in the ministry. It also shows the Congress’s determination to avoid any future association with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar.
While an upset Lalu evaded journalists’ queries on the white paper, sources said many officials in Rail Bhavan did not believe his claims of a surplus of Rs 90,000 crore. Banerjee was given “inputs” by the ministry mandarins who wanted to nail Lalu’s lies, the sources added.
The Congress, which had dumped the RJD in Bihar during the Lok Sabha polls, also supports the Trinamool Congress chief.
Banerjee, who became the rail minister less than two months ago, was regularly in touch with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee in the run- up to the budget presentation. Without the Congress’s green signal, she would not have dared to take on a person like Lalu, the sources said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee had congratulated Banerjee after the budget. While Mukherjee was seen patting her shoulder in the Lok Sabha, Singh told the media Banerjee had done “a competent job” at a short notice.
Though the PM had credited Lalu with turning around the railways, party sources said Singh had distanced himself from the RJD later on. The PM changed his attitude after Rahul Gandhi decided that the Congress should go it alone in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
On the other hand, according to sources in the Congress, the white paper, if at all published, may not necessarily be used against the RJD chief.
Party sources said the CPM is set to lose power in West Bengal.
So, by the time the white paper is ready, Banerjee may become the chief minister of West Bengal (Assembly elections are due in 2011 but may be held earlier).
In such a scenario, the railway portfolio will go to a Congressman and the party will use the white paper according to the situation.
There are more odds against Lalu. His arch political rival and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has also welcomed Banerjee’s white paper proposal.
Kumar said the white paper would expose Lalu’s “bazigari” (figure fudging to claim profits).
However, unfazed by Banerjee’s declaration, Lalu on Saturday said he was not worried about the white paper as it would bring out the truth.
Taking exception to Nitish’s statement, the RJD chief charged the Bihar CM with not providing land for railway projects.
Lalu said Kumar would have to apologise for making such “unsavoury” remarks against him when the white paper report is made public.
Actually, much would depend on the future equation between the Congress and Kumar.
A section in the Janata Dal (United) is egging on Kumar to dump the BJP and join hands with the Congress so that the party can consolidate its Muslim vote bank and also join the UPA government at the Centre.
Some JD(U) leaders think that the BJP, burdened with internal squabbles, is a liability.
Indications are that after the Liberhan Commission report is tabled – the report is likely to indict senior saffron leaders such as L. K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and a few others – the JD(U) may sever its ties with the BJP.
–Agencies