New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and triggered a debate on the possibility of early general elections. She claimed she has information that a political party in Delhi had held a meeting to advance the Lok Sabha poll to 2013 and asked her partymen to be ready for it.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has welcomed Mamata's comments on early general elections. Reacting to Mamata's comments, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, "Mamata Banerjee should get rid of this government. She has hinted at early polls in 2013. The BJP wants the elections to take place in 2012 itself. The sooner this government leaves, the better it will be."
However, the Congress remained firm that the Lok Sabha elections would happen as per the schedule in 2014. Congress spokesperson rashid Alvi said, "Every political party should be ready for elections anytime. UPA II will complete its term. The elections will happen at their scheduled time."
"There may be a difference of opinion. In a democracy, it's very much possible," Alvi added.
Earlier on Friday, Mamata had said that she'd heard that a party in Delhi had held a meeting to advance the Lok Sabha elections by one year to 2013.
"Anyday, we can face election. We have to remain ready," she said.
"One party has held a meeting to hold the election in advance, though my information may not be correct," Banerjee told a meeting of Trinamool Congress without naming the party.
"I have got the information. I am not going into details as to who were at the meeting. They deliberated on advancing the Lok Sabha election to 2013," she said.
Banerjee turned to her close aide and Railway Minister and said "what Mukul? Wasn't the the meeting held?
Mamata's claim contradicts the UPA's stand that elections won't be advanced.
(With additional information from PTI)
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