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In a significant development, National Democratic Alliance convenor George Fernandes will share the dais with Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday. This is the first time they will appear in public since the Trinamul quit the alliance pressing for the resignation of the former defence minister in the wake of the Tehelka expose.
Banerjee will be present at the 'Martyrs Day' rally to be held in Contai in Midnapore district, scene of a series of political clashes between the Trinamul and West Bengal's ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist.
The invitation by the party had been accepted by Fernandes, who will arrive in Calcutta late Tuesday with Trinamul chief whip in the Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay, Trinamul leader Sobhandev Chattopadhyay told newsmen.
Questioned why Fernandes had been invited, Chattopadhaya, the chief whip in the state assembly, said it was a party decision.
He, however, refused to say if Trinamul was rejoining the NDA but pointed out that both the Trinamul parliamentary party and the working committee had already authorised the party chief to take a final decision on this.
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