No cross voting: Mamata directs TMC MPs to coordinate more with other Opp. parties

New Delhi, Jul 18 : There has been no cross voting from the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress camp in the Presidential elections, party spokesman Derek O' Brien said here today. "There has been absolutely no cross voting. For Trinamool Members of Parliament and other leaders including state legislators - the voting exercise in yesterday's Presidential polls in West Bengal assembly premises was like family reunion with our party chief Mamata Banerjee and amongst one another," Mr Brien told reporters here. He said the ruling BJP is making much ado about nothing by talking informally or otherwise on the possibility of "cross voting" from the Trinamool Congress. The BJP sources have, meanwhile, suggested that "jittery" about such a possibility made Mamata Banerjee ensure that as many as 42 Members of Parliament were called to Kolkata to execise their voting right in the Presidential elections yesterday. "Mamata Banerjee was nervous on the eve of Presidential elections and hence instructed all party MPs to write to the Election Commission seeking permission to cast their votes in Kolkata," a BJP source said even as it claimed that despite all efforts made by Trinamool leadership "we are confident that some cross voting from Trinamool camp took place in favour of NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind". Mr Brien, however, admitted six legislators from Tripura might have voted for Mr Kovind as --- "they were long back either expelled or suspended from Trinamool Congress". "....but rest of the story being circulated is untrue," Mr Brien said. However, according to Trinamool sources in the August 5 election for Vice President's post - of the 12 Rajya Sabha MPs -- one could possibly "go against the party decision". Trinamool MP in Rajya Sabha is a known 'rebel' now in the party, the source said. To a question, the source said, "It is true with 40 years of political experience Mamata Banerjee has friends across party lines and both Mamata and Venkaiah Naidu (BJP's candidate for Vice President) also know each other well". Mr Brien further said the interactions with Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata yesterday during Presidential polls helped Trinamool Congress MPs in chalking out parliamentary strategy for the on-going monsoon session. Derek, who is also Leader of the Trinamool Congress in Rajya Sabha, said, "one of the guidelines from our leader was that we should do more coordination with the floor leaders of other parties". "You will see more of such cooperation and coordination....and I am sure you all saw it today when Mayawati of BSP spoke first in the Rajya Sabha on anti-Dalit violence in Saharanpur....Our numbers are more than BSP in Rajya Sabha, but she spoke first," he said. UNI