Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee has lent her full support to federal minister Sushma Swaraj on the Lalit Modi controversy.

While the opposition Congress party has demanded her resignation on the issue, Banerjee has not only remained silent but also has chided her party MP Sougata Roy for speaking against her on television. In a televised debate, Roy has also joined the chorus seeking Swaraj’s resignation describing her help to Lalit Modi to secure travel documents as “improper conduct”.

However, TMC spokesperson Derek O’ Brien, who is presently outside the country shot an email saying that the statements given by Roy was his personal view and not that of the party. “Mamata has always been a loyal friend and her friendship with Swaraj goes back for over two decades. She (Banerjee) would not like TMC leaders to heckle her,” said a TMC leader known for his proximity with Banerjee.

Many believe that Banerjee is being cautious and choosing her battles carefully. She does not want to puncture the new found friendship with the BJP over a trivial issue and ensure various central agencies breathing down her neck on the Saradha scam, the biggest financial scam in the history of the state.

Central BJP leaders in turn has also toned down the shrill rhetoric against her government realising that TMC’s support in Rajya Sabha (upper house of parliament) is more critical than winning the state.

BJP insiders though point out that this external friendship of Swaraj makes it extremely difficult for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek her resignation over the issue. Not only Banerjee, Swaraj is said to have cordial relationship with Mulayam Singh Yadav leader of the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav among many others in the opposition benches. She is even known to maintain close rapport with Congress party President Sonia Gandhi, as the two recently made news hugging each other inside parliament, while Rahul Gandhi demanded her resignation.

“She (Swaraj) is one of few BJP leaders who share cordial relationship with the leaders of the opposition benches. In spite of fighting Sonia (Gandhi) tooth and nail in two parliamentary elections and even claiming that she would shave of her head if Sonia become prime minister in 2004, she is her friend and certainly an asset for the government,” said a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader.

Swaraj, has been vocal against Modi being chosen first as the campaign leader in 2013 and then prime ministerial candidate in 2014. But once she realised that the RSS — the parent body of the BJP — has made a final decision, she strengthened her friendship with other leaders knowing it would be of great use to her.

“Leaving behind political rivalries Swaraj is a nice person and great communicator. She fought her battle within her party to reach where she is today,” former parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath, had told Gulf News in 2014 before the general elections. However, Nath today refused to comment on the issue and her personal rapport with Swaraj.

“Politicians are keen to comment, but when they refuse it means they are trying to protect someone. In case of Swaraj more so has been done by the opposition benches who are keen to take the charge of corruption to the prime minister’s door sidelining her,” said Mangal Updhay, a public relationship expert who has worked with BJP during elections.