Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday paid an impromptu visit to Jyoti Basu’s Salt Lake residence, spending about 20 minutes with the ailing Communist leader. The 94-year-old Basu congratulated Mamata on her electoral victory in the Lok Sabha.

“I will not be there to watch the next election. But you should certainly carry on with your politics. My best wishes are with you,” Basu told Mamata. Mamata, on her part, conveyed her respects to the leader and prayed for his speedy recovery. She was accompanied by MP Mukul Roy and Trinamool Congress general secretary Partho Chattarjee.

Though Mamata’s visit was said to be a courtesy call, there was no missing the message of the “politically correct” move. On a daily basis, Mamata has been pointing fingers at Basu’s successor Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, accusing him of losing the moral high ground to rule the state after his party’s humiliating defeat in the general elections. She has also termed the Left Front government’s cyclone relief efforts as “highly partisan” and “miserably inadequate”. Meanwhile, her MPs have launched an offensive against CPI(M) party cadres in East Midnapore.

Coming out of Basu’s house, Banerjee told mediapersons: “I wanted to talk politics with Basu. But the presence of someone inside his room prevented me. I simply wished him a speedy recovery... I admire Jyoti Basu, his health is better and therefore I decided to meet him.”

It was Ramola Chakraborty, wife of the State Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty, who was present inside Basu’s room. She left only after Mamata’s departure. Ramola, when contacted, said she did not know about Mamata’s visit as it was unscheduled. As Basu’s personal secretary is on leave she has been visiting him at least twice a day, she said, adding that she just happened to be in the room when Mamata came in.

... contd.