In a report in the Kolkata based Bengali newspaper, the Ananda Bazar Patrika, the Trinamool chief is quoted saying, "We are not traitors. Putting the central govt in a spot is not our objective. We do not want mid-term polls. We don't want to split our alliance with Congress."
The report says Mamata Banerjee spoke to Congress leader Ahmed Patel on the matter.
Her party sources say Ms Banerjee is unlikely to accept an invitation from the Akalis to attend the swearing-in of Parkash Singh Badal as Chief Minister. Her presence would not go down well with the Congress, who was served an unexpected defeat by the Akalis in the recent election in Punjab. Aware of the recent reports on her siding against the UPA with many of the Congress' political rivals like Naveen Patnaik of Odisha, Ms Banerjee is prone for now to avoid more controversy.
At yesterday's parliamentary party meeting, Ms Banrejee had said Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi had admitted his mistake about his comments about mid-term polls.
Mr Trivedi had said if that there is an anti-Congress wave in the country and the Samajwadi Party and the BJP wants early polls then Congress should understand.
"Trinamool may also be happy to have a mid-term poll now rather than two years later. If I am in a situation of a lame duck then I think it may be a good idea to call it a day," Mr Trivedi had said.
He had also said that not much could be expected in the Budget Session of Parliament. Mr Trivedi later did a volte face and said the remarks were made in an individual capacity. "My remarks have nothing to do with my party, it has nothing to do with me as a minister. It is just an exchange of idea as a student of politics, analysing a political situation in the country. And as an individual, I have certainly lost my freedom of expression but it is not a statement," he said
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