Pinning its hopes on the former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, reconsidering his decision not to contest the Presidential polls, the Trinamool Congress, which had tried to garner support for his candidature, said here on Monday that it would take a call on the matter only after the last date for filing nominations for the post.
Trinamool chairperson Mamata Banerjee, while attributing Mr. Kalam’s decision to “some political parties [which] simply failed the people,” asserted that there was a “lack of faith of the common people in political entities who partake in rampant corruption and underhand dealings.”
Her remarks, posted on the social networking site Facebook, could be construed as an attack on the Congress as well as the Samajwadi Party for the second successive day, after hinting on Sunday that they were responsible for “backroom deal-making” and “Machiavellian manipulations and machinations.”
“Some self-seeking politicians have discarded all ethics and thereby have alienated themselves from the people,” she said, a comment that may be directed against Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, whose candidature the party continues to oppose.
Mr. Kalam’s press statement saying he was not in the contest came “after waiting for 3-4 painful days,” said Ms. Banerjee.
“I have seen your statement that you are not contesting. This news has hurt all of us deeply,” she added.
“Kalam Saheb, you have touched our hearts and our spirit,” her post read.
Ms. Banerjee chaired a meeting of Ministers, MPs and MLAs of the Trinamool Congress where the matter was discussed at length.
