Forget the past: Mamata sends EC three basketful of mangoes

Kolkata, July 9: She fought the hardest battle of her life even two months back when election was underway in her state. Apart from the Congress-Left electoral understanding, the charges of corruption against her party's top leaders and ministers and the tirade of the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the campaign of a section of the influential media---she also had to tackle an unrelenting Election Commission while fighting all the way to the winner's podium.

But now, everything looks settled. So much so that Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sent three baskets of mangoes to Chief Election Commissioner Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi as a goodwill gesture, a report in Anandabazar Patrika said.

The entire poll commission office is now busy tasting the variety of mangoes that Banerjee has sent from her state, the report said. After winning her second successive term in office, could the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo have done better other than this Gandhigiri of the first order? [What after central forces go home, Mamata asked voters during Assembly election]

The Bengal government has submitted its written complaints to the commission over whatever the latter had done in the state during the April-May election---like removing of bureaucrats and police officers including the Kolkata Police commissioner. But at the same time, it has also resorted to the mango diplomacy, the report said. [Oppn, media, EC: Mamata has too many enemies]

The chief election commissioner was impressed with the move. He said whatever the EC does during election is not politically motivated since it is accountable to the democracy.

Mamata seems to have deserted the collision course in her second stint as CM

Banerjee's avatar in her second stint as the chief minister has caught many eyes. She has not displayed her mercurial nature this time and is showing an intent to cooperate. She has also avoided making statements in the media that can snowball into controversies. She has even expressed her support for the much debated GST Bill, giving hope to the BJP-led NDA government of succeeding to get it passed in the Upper House.

The change in Banerjee has been welcomed by many and it will be interesting to see how this calm-looking leader lays out her future course of politics at the time of the next Lok Sabha election.

Oneindia News