Didi says willing to back CPM on no-trust vote, Left snubs her

Mamata has already had talks with the BJP and CPI on tabling a no-confidence motion in Parliament. "This (corruption) is a national issue and I have no ego with anyone. If the CPM has any problem backing our no-trust motion, they can table it and we will not hesitate to support it. I can even go to Alimuddin Street to discuss this issue with Biman Bose. But the CPM has to promise that it would not backtrack and strike a deal with the Congress," Mamata said at the Writers' Buildings on Tuesday.

The Congress criticised her statement. "It is double standards," WBPCC president Pradip Bhattcharya said at Haldia.

An hour after Mamata made the statement, Biman Bose ridiculed it saying the Left did not have the numbers to place the motion. "Anybody is welcome here. But when you jump on a ground you will have to see whether it is soft or dry otherwise you may suffer a leg injury. The TMC has only 19 members. We took a decision on November 12 that we would table a resolution opposing FDI in retail. That way we can expose the government and if it loses, it could be a loss of face. When the motion will be tabled, parties who do not support the FDI but want the government to continue will support the UPA and the government will have a second lease of life,'' Bose said during a press conference.

Mamata said that she had telephoned CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta on Monday seeking his support. "I did not call him up to make my political platform. He (Dasgupta) is with the Left Front. I told him that if the CPM has ego issues with us, we would support a no-confidence motion tabled by them," she said.

Mamata said a party cannot take two stands on the same issue. "They (CPM) voted against the Lokpal Bill with the BJP. I do not support the ideology of the Congress or the BJP. I abandoned the Congress because they backed the CPM. I want to make it clear that there is no point scaring us about the BJP."

Stating again that she has "no ego" with any political party, Mamata said, "There may be different opinions, but I consider no one untouchable."

Explaining why she is so desperate to topple UPA II, Mamata said: "This is a big issue and the fight is to save the people and the country." In an attempt to mount pressure on the CPM, she said that the people are watching "who are trying to save the corrupt and traitor Congress".

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