Narada: Mamata distances herself with tainted MLAs but backs accused MP

Kolkata, April 21: Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee said a few days ago that had she known about the Narada sting operation earlier, she could have given a second thought to the selection of candidates.

"But since the candidates were already selected, I couldn't do anything," she had told in a rally in Kolkata last week.

According to observers, Banerjee was desperate to save her own back in urban constituencies in Kolkata where the Narada sting operation news is expected to make an impact. Her "had I known remark..." had also left the party leaders, who have been accused of accepting bribe in the sting operation and are contesting this year's election, reportedly disappointed.

However, on Wednesday, when it came to her party's MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Banerjee clearly sided with her, saying the latter could buy off 50 such Naradas and need not have to gobble up money like that.

The chief minister's critics said she is clearly pursuing a two-faced strategy. On the one hand, she is trying to distance with the accused MLAs since the Assembly election is here but is siding with MPs who have no electoral test to face now. The next Lok Sabha election is in 2019, a clear three years away.

Oneindia News