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Deputy Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani was non-committal when West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya on Saturday requested constitution of an expert committee to examine the proposed bifurcation of Eastern Railways.
According to a senior official of the home ministry, Advani was polite and gave a patient hearing to the West Bengal chief minister.
The bifurcation involves creating a new railway zone with its headquarters in Hajipur, near Patna.
West Bengal believes that bifurcation would cause loss of revenue to Eastern Railways.
Bhattacharya's 30-minute meeting with Advani effectively proved that the initial spat between Railway Minister Nitish Kumar and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has managed to unite even bitter foes in both West Bengal and Bihar.
Later speaking to reporters, Bhattacharya said he favoured a status quo, pointing out that the issue was likely to generate more tension.
"Similar problems may crop up elsewhere too," Bhattacharya said, adding that West Bengal desired friendly ties with neighbouring states.
An expert committee would do justice to his state and also help thrash out an amicable solution between West Bengal and Bihar over the issue, Bhattacharya said.
He also did not fail to point out that Mamata Banerjee, even as railway minister, had thus far not done anything about the bifurcation proposal though the decision was taken about six years ago.
While the ruling Left Front in West Bengal has backed Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee's fight against the bifurcation proposal, all parties, including the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal, in Bihar have rallied behind Nitish Kumar, the Samata Party MP from Barh.
In fact, members of Parliament on both sides are preparing for a face off in Parliament during the impending monsoon session with the issue having now taken the character of a West Bengal versus Bihar fight with the Centre playing arbitrator.
With both the Samata Party and the Trinamool Congress being part of the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, the issue has once again proved that it is not the opposition but the constituents themselves who are creating the biggest problems for the ruling coalition.
Incidentally, while Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is keen on Mamata joining his cabinet, she is demanding the railway ministry being held by Nitish Kumar of the Samata Party, another important NDA constituent.
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