Apparently upset with Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Samjawadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav jointly naming him as one of their preferred candidates for President, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is learnt to have cancelled his meeting with the West Bengal chief minister on Wednesday.
Though Trinamul Congress leaders maintained the meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, no time has been specified for the meeting.
While Ms Banerjee was scheduled to meet the PM to discuss the financial package for West Bengal, she met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and immediately went to meet Mr Yadav.
“The meeting with the Prime Minister is not taking place today. It will be held tomorrow but no time has yet been given,” stated a senior TMC leader.
However, Ms Banerjee is stated to be upset with the UPA government for not deciding on key demands of the state government, including a moratorium on interest payments.
Sources said while the Centre had conveyed to West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra that the state could get about Rs 16,000 crores in four phases spread over three years, Ms Banerjee is apparently disappointed.
“The Centre said a moratorium is not possible as there is no provision for this. They are offering funds under various C e n t r a l l y - s p o n s o r e d schemes which do not meet our demands,” added the TMC leader.
Apparently Ms Banerjee and Mr Yadav have joined hands to pressure the Centre to bail out Bengal and Uttar Pradesh .
“Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has written 13 letters to the PM so far to press for financial aid for various schemes.
The SP government in Uttar Pradesh cannot fulfil poll promises if funds are not made available for the state.
We have common cause with Ms Banerjee,” said a senior Samajwadi Party leader. Ms Banerjee is likely to be in the national capital till Thursday evening and is stated to have important official engagements in Kolkata on Friday.