The Trinamul Congress led by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and the DMK are still “friends” of the Congress. This was made clear by the party on the eve of the ninth anniversary of the UPA.
Responding to a question whether the Congress’ old “saathi (friends)” would attend the anniversary function, Congress spokesman Raj Babbar said: “Hum unhe dost mante hain (we consider them friends).”
However, he did not mention the two parties.
“You do not make appeal to friends. You extend a hand and that is reciprocated from the other side. Our hand has been extended,” Mr Babbar told reporters.
He was asked whether the Congress would appeal to the all like-minded parties to come together with Lok Sabha polls just a year away.
When told that the UPA has suffered desertions with key allies like the Trinamul Congress and the DMK walking away, he said that the party in its 125-year history has seen of friends coming in and walking out.
While the DMK, one of the founder members of the UPA, remained with it for over eight years, the Trinamul Congress joined it after the Left withdrew support to the UPA in July 2008. Mr Babbar said he had no idea who is attending the UPA anniversary function on Wedneday.
The NCP, RLD, National Conference and the Muslim League Kerala State Committee are the main constituents of the Congress-led UPA.
The SP, BSP, RJD, Janata Dal (S) and the LJP have been backing the Manmohan Singh government from outside unconditionally. But is unclear whether Mr Mulayam Singh, Ms Mayawati, former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav would attend the function or send their representatives.
Asked who among the outside supporters will be present at the function at which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will present report card of his government, Mr Babbar said he was not aware of the mailing list.