After attempting to block Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature for the post of President, TMC leader Mamata Banerjee has thrown a spanner in the smooth sailing of Dr Hamid Ansari to be re-elected as Vice President.
Ansari’s name emerged during the discussions that the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had with CPM leader Prakash Karat and former PM H D Deve Gowda. The allies of the Congress in the UPA and outside are also seen inclined to support Ansari.
But Mamata banerjee threw a spanner by stating the Gopal Krishan Gandhi, a grandson of the Mahatma Gandhi be fielded by the UPA for the post. He was appointed as governor of West Bengal at the behest of the Left parties. But he chose to lent his support to Mamata banerjee during the Singur agitation.
Alternatively, Mamata banerjee wanted Krishna Bose as VP who is also a close relative of late Subhash Chandra Bose.
Surprisingly, Mamata’s ally Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party did not react to her suggestion so far. But Mamata’s suggestion to make Gandhi as VP is bound to create a big political turmoil as the Left, the BJP, NDA and large sections of non-UPA parties may support him too.
Reports said Mamata is not happy with the way Ansari for the partisan role played by him as Rajya Sabha Chairman during the Lokpal debate late last year. Even the Samajwadi Party is upset with him as he had signed the motion to suspend its MPs when they created a ruckus on the Women’s reservations Bill. It was Arun Jaitley, Leader of the Opposition who opposed Hamid Ansari’s act saying that the chairman doesn’t have the power to do so. The motion has to be passed by the Rajya Sabha. The chairman can only suspend MPs. But no motion can be signed by him without the permission of the house. Ansari had to cut a sorry figure.
There is also confusion as to why PM chose to speak to Karat and Gowda while a formal discussion within the UPA ad its supporting parties on the issue is yet to take place.
Mamata’s proposal has come at a time when Pranab Mukherjee is working hard to get her support for the presidential poll.
