Brinda Karat dismisses Mamata's claim, says 'no question of mid-term polls'

Ranchi/New Delhi, May 12 (ANI): Amid the ongoing row over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that the Lok Sabha polls may be advanced, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Brinda Karat on Saturday said there is no question of a mid-term poll in the country, and termed it to be an internal matter of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the ruling Congress Party.

"From where does the question of mid-term polls arise. We read about it in the media. What Mamatiji will say when we have no idea about it? Its better you talk to her party workers (TMC party workers) or people from the Congress," she said.

Expressing surprise over Banerjee's ideas, Karat said: "I don't know from where this particular thing came to Mamataji's mind. And from whom did she receive this news, only Mamataji and the Congress can know about it. We don't have any information about this. What Mamataji is saying her party workers will understand? There is no need for us to comment anything on it."

Congress Party earlier today played down Banerjee's claim, saying if the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief has told anything to her party workers then it is an internal party matter.

Dismissing the reports, Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) 2 will complete its full term and the elections will be held in 2014 as scheduled.

Banerjee had earlier on Friday claimed she has information that 'a political party' in Delhi had held a meeting to advance the Lok Sabha poll to 2013, and asked her partymen to be ready for it.

Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress (TMC) is a key ally of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre has since the past few months kept the Centre on tenterhooks on various issues of national and regional concern, such as price rise and the proposal to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail. (ANI)