New Delhi: TMC leader and Union Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi did a U-turn on Thursday, clarifying that his remarks regarding mid-term polls were just a "political analysis" and not a statement as a politician or the "view of my party".
"This was just a political analysis, not a statement as a politician or the view of my party," he said.
He added, "I hope this government completes the entire term. Elections are so expensive, we would not want mid-term polls."
When asked about the Samajwadi Party and the BJP's demands that mid-term elections be held earlier, he said, "I can't speculate on other parties' clamour for mid-term polls. This is not my party's position at all."
He further said, "Policy paralysis now will be more acute after election results. There is a fear that big ticket reforms will be difficult. The parties have political ambitions. Government has to make a tight-rope walk. Numbers are a reality, you cannot change the numbers. We need to be real."
Trivedi had earlier on Thursday said that if there was an anti-Congress wave in the country and "other parties are asking for it, then the government should announce early mid-term polls".
Out of the five states that went to polls on Tuesday, Congress lost in three, including the politically significant state of Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking at an event, Trivedi said, "Trinamool may also be happy to have a mid-term poll now rather than two years later. If I'm in a situation of a lame duck then I think it may be a good idea to call it a day."
On Wednesday, Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy also asserted that there was indeed a possibility of a new coalition government at the Centre or mid-term polls by September or October.
The government would face an uphill task in getting the budget passed, he said.
Mandate 2012: The fallout:
- Pursuit of economic reforms such as FDI in retail could get tougher.
- Like Mamata Banerjee, the Samajwadi Party, too could make unreasonable demands as price for its support to the UPA.
- Mulayam Singh Yadav may join regional leaders to add to the government's woes on issues like NCTC.
- Congress is not in majority in Rajya Sabha.
- Lokpal Bill may still be held up in Rajya Sabha.
- Looming number crunch in upcoming Presidential elections.
- The Congress is least likely to impose its candidate for the President's post.
- The Congress' dependance on allies like the NCP and TMC will increase.
- The Congress will need to reach out to the BSP and the SP too for major policy bills in Parliament.
- The Budget session of Parliament begins on March 12. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's hope of a tough budget to bring economy on track may become difficult.
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