Mamata Banerjee might give BJP Rajya Sabha support

The victory of two power women, J. Jayalalithaa in Tamil Nadu and Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, could help the Modi government drive a wedge in the Congress’ repeated moves for Opposition unity in Parliament. The victory of the AIADMK and Trinamul Congress would help Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintain a “friendly” state-Centre relationship.

The BJP might still be lagging behind in the numbers game in the Rajya Sabha but “we can expect support on certain issues, including the GST, in the RS from TMC and AIADMK,” a senior party functionary said. Both AIADMK and TMC, incidentally, are in favour of GST.

PM Narendra Modi lost no time to “congratulate” Ms Jayalalithaa and Ms Banerjee after their return to power. The PM tweeted: “Spoke to @MamataOfficial ji & congratulated her on the impressive victory. My best wishes to her as she begins her 2nd term.” His tweet for Ms Jayalalithaa’s victory read, Had a telephone conversation with Jayalalithaaji and congratulated her on her victory. Also conveyed my best wishes to her.”

After her victory, Mamata Banerjee declared, “We have ideological differences with the BJP but we will always support them on issues that are beneficial to the people. We will support.”

Though the TMC, which has got the lion’s share of 30 per cent Muslim votes, is not in a position to return to the Modi-led NDA, both the PM and Ms Banerjee had refrained from lashing out at each other during the election campaign.

It may be recalled that last August Prime Minister Modi had a “lunch pe charcha” at Ms Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence in Chennai and sought her support on the Goods and Services Tax Bill.

While the AIADMK maintains an independent status in Parliament, it has consistently provided crucial support to the BJP-led government on key issues. The government is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha and depends on the support of regional parties like the AIADMK to push through key legislation. Ms Jayalalithaa’s party has also stayed away from the Opposition protests led by the Congress. Mr Modi had often referred to Ms Jayalalithaa as a “good friend”.

Ms Banerjee, who was initially inclined towards the Congress, is now expected to lean towards the Centre as the Congress and BJP had joined hands to oust her from power. Congress president Sonia Gandhi even compared Ms Banerjee with Mr Modi. The Left had raised a slogan hinting at a tacit understanding between Mr Modi and Ms Banerjee, saying, “Didibhai-Modibhai”. On the GST Bill issue, there is still speculation that the Trinamul, which has 12 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, could support it openly or stage a walkout to facilitate the government’s move to push through the contentious bill.