Hazare tells TMC to go pro-people before poll

When the rest of the nation is busy following Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra Modi’s election trail and formation of the Third Front, anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee might be working out a new political axis.  While the first steps were taken in a letter Anna sent a month ago, the Trinamool website came out in Anna’s support.

While both Anna and Mamata have reposed faith in each other, the Trinamool supremo is all set to include Anna’s suggestions into her election manifesto for the forthcoming general election. According to sources, the two have been in touch for a long time and Mamata is reported to have told Anna that she agrees with him on issues like FDI in retail and land acquisition.

Trinamool general secretary Mukul Roy told reporters in Kolkata that Anna wrote to Mamata in December 2013, expressing his opinion on a number of topics of national importance. Roy said that Mamata and Anna share similar opinion on issues like FDI in retail, land acquisition, privatisation of PSUs and pension fund.

According to party sources, Hazare’s recommendations have been incorporated into the party manifesto. “The suggestions include ensuring a Lokayukta, putting up of citizens’ charter to address people’s problems and to bring all state government employees under the purview of Lokpal,” a senior party leader said. The TMC website said Anna wrote to Mamata and asked her to include some pro-people policies.