By IANS,
Kolkata : The Bharatiya Janta Party Tuesday scoffed at speculations that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s praise for Mamata Banerjee was an olive branch to the West Bengal chief minister.
“Modi was showing sympathy towards the state government. He just stated facts. By no means did he extend an olive branch to Mamata. It does not mean we (the BJP and the Trinamool Congress) will contest the elections together,” said Tathagata Roy, the BJP’s national executive member.
Roy said that the BJP becoming friendly with the Trinamool Congress, with which it had alliance earlier, was a mere media speculation.
Addressing city entrepreneurs earlier Tuesday, Modi praised Banerjee and said: “I am confident about the efforts being made (by the Banerjee government). The dreams of the people of Bengal will be fulfilled.”
About Modi’s praise for Banerjee, state Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya said: “We feel there is a nexus between the two parties.”