Patil tired of dressing down

Speculation over the continuance in office of beleaguered Union home minister Shivraj Patil is gaining ground in political circles with the Congress leadership assessing whether a change is required at this juncture. Sources said this was because competence was not the only criteria for the post and that the “confidence” of the leadership was equally important.

A special meeting of the Union Cabinet has been called on Wednesday to discuss the terror attacks.

“There is no forward movement on this issue (continuance of Mr Patil in his post) at this juncture,” well placed sources said here on Tuesday, adding that “he may go or may not go”. The leadership does not want to take a decision under pressure either from the BJP or from RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav.

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Mamata is losing support in Singur

Trinamul Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, spearheading the Singur agitation, might forcibly enter the Nano factory the moment the Tatas decide to withdraw from West Bengal.

Trinamul sources said this was what “Didi (Mamata) has been contemplating for long.” He told this newspaper: “This could be risky... if we decide to enter the factory by breaking the boundary walls and sit on a dharna.” While Ms Banerjee appeared set for a head-on collision with West Bengal’s Left Front government, she also sent a delegation to hold talks with governor Gopal krishna Gandhi on Sunday. The governor had sent a letter Saturday asking her to agree to negotiations.

Ms Banerjee, despite her “pro-people” stir, also appears to be losing considerable local support in Singur. A breach is also becoming evident within her party on the issue. Some leaders fear that if the Tatas were forced to leave Bengal, the CPI(M) could regain the political advantage as it would hold them (Trinamul) for the loss of a major project.

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