With the split in the Opposition camp wide open after the Trinamool Congress refused to back Opposition candidate Margaret Alva in the Vice-Presidential election, there are visible attempts at ‘damage control’.
Taking to Twitter on Friday, Ms. Alva said, “The TMC's decision to abstain from voting in the VP election is disappointing. This isn't the time for 'whataboutery', ego or anger. This is the time for courage, leadership & unity. I believe, @MamataOfficial, who is the epitome of courage, will stand with the opposition”.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, too appealed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for a rethink.
Amid claims that the Trinamool was never consulted on the V-P election, a senior Opposition leader told The Hindu that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had spoken on phone to Ms. Banerjee on July 15 to discuss the Opposition’s plan.
The senior leader was among the informal Opposition group who were trying to find a suitable person to ensure that the V-P election did not go uncontested.
On July 16, after former West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar was declared as NDA’s V-P candidate, Ms. Gandhi tried reaching Ms. Banerjee again but wasn’t successful, he claimed.
A day later, when Opposition leaders met and decided on former Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva as the joint Opposition candidate, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar had told reporters that he too was unable to reach out to Ms. Banerjee, but had expressed confidence that she would be with the Opposition on the V-P election as well.
Stunned by Trinamool’s decision to abstain from voting, Opposition leaders are trying to counter the allegation that Trinamool’s “support was taken for granted and it wasn’t consulted before announcing Ms. Alva’s candidature”.
“We have the highest regard for Margaret Alva and we respect her legacy. However, we have opposed the manner and method in which the candidate was decided," said Trinamool leader in the Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien.
“While the Trinamool is like-minded, it is not an electoral ally of the grand old party. The grand old party should view the Trinamool as an equal partner and in that spirit let us agree on issues and strategies of the bigoted BJP government," he added.
