KOLKATA: Her pullout from the UPA II government at the Centre two years ago in September 2012, didn’t come in the way of Mamata Banerjee throwing her weight behind Congress president Sonia Gandhi as she stressed the "compelling need for secularism" at the opening of a two-day seminar to mark the 125th birth anniversary of the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru . Mamata is also ready to break bread with arch rival Left on the issue as hinted earlier.

"Why not? This is not a matter of West Bengal. It’s a national issue. We have our ideological differences. Yet we can come together to float an anti-communal front. It can be a platform to fight communalism. I have respect for dharma gurus. But I don’t support danga (riot) gurus. All political parties should come together on this issue. Even BJP can join this platform because the party is in the ruling now, and I believe it doesn’t want riots," the West Bengal chief minister said.

Mamata’s invitation to BJP, however, completely foxed saffron leaders in Bengal. "I am thoroughly confused at what she has said," BJP leader Tathagata Roy said.

Seated in the same row as CPM’s Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s D Raja and JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, Mamata also shared her concern over BJP’s rise in Bengal with Yechury. The CPM politburo member was courteous but reminded her that it was because of her party that BJP had made inroads in the state. Mamata also took time out to meet BJP veteran L K Advani at his Delhi residence and also inquired about the health of his ailing wife Kamala.

READ ALSO: Mamata visits Advani's house to see his ailing wife

Mamata’s attending the Congress seminar, talking to Left leaders and paying a visit to Advani’s residence set off speculation in political circles. The chief minister, however, doesn’t want people to read more into it. "What’s new about talking to Left leaders. I had been to Somnath Chatterjee’s place, had the best of relations with CPI leaders Gita Mukherjee and Indrajit Gupta. After all, our party goes by decency and courtesy," Mamata said. Asked if she would lead the anti-communal front, the CM said: “I am a small fry. Let parties come together on this issue. I will do more than what is expected of me." She added that Congress should take a back seat for the moment and allow regional parties to take the lead. "Congress did many wrongs and made way for BJP. Now for someday let its leaders take a back seat and allow others to work. One needs to honour regions and their sentiments," the chief minister said.

CPM leaders, however, see a "desperation" in Mamata’s overtures. Left to itself, CPM would like begin its fight against communalism primarily with 16 Left parties that held a convention in Kolkata on November 13. "Trinamool Congress brought the BJP to Bengal, nurtured and fuelled the party. Ousting Trinamool is thus a dire necessity for combating BJP," CPM politburo member Surjya Kanta Mishra said.

