Mamata Banerjee: Trinamool Congress chief Banerjee ji thanked opposition leaders for supporting her amid talks of a change in INDIA bloc leadership.
I am thankful to all the leaders for honoring me. I wish them good health, success for their parties and prosperity for India, said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at an event in Purba Medinipur.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said Banerjee wants to create an alternative platform to defeat the BJP. Mamata has clarified that she is not aiming for any position in Delhi. Her focus is on building a strong platform to defeat the BJP. Under her leadership, we defeated the BJP in West Bengal. Similarly, he said the JMM defeated the BJP in Jharkhand under Hemant Soren’s leadership.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh criticized Congress, saying, “In states like Haryana and Maharashtra, where Congress was responsible for defeating the BJP, they failed. This is why senior INDIA alliance leaders are suggesting Mamata Banerjee as the face of the alliance. Congress should reflect on why they failed in Haryana, Maharashtra and the Lok Sabha elections.”
Mamata Banerjee reacts to support as INDIA bloc leader: Grateful to all
On Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee thanked Opposition leaders for supporting her as the leader of the INDIA bloc amid talks of a leadership change.
I am grateful to all the leaders who have honored me. I wish them good health, success for their parties and prosperity for India, she said Mamata made the statement while addressing a gathering in Purba Medinipur, focusing on unity and well-being.
Several opposition leaders, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar and former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav, have supported Mamata Banerjee.
Yes, certainly (she is capable of leading the alliance). She is a prominent leader of this nation. she has that capability, said Pawar, expressing his backing for Mamata. The elected leaders she sent to Parliament are responsible, dutiful, and well-aware. Therefore, she has the right to say so, Pawar added.
Currently, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge serves as the chairman of the Opposition alliance formed ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Thankful For Respect: Mamata Banerjee On Support For INDIA Leadership
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been widely considered to lead the INDIA Bloc, thanked all those supporting her, with veteran leader Lalu Yadav being the latest to join the support. She expressed gratitude for the “respect” shown to her but did not elaborate further.
I am thankful to everyone for the respect they have shown me. I pray for everyone’s good health and wish them success for their parties. I want INDIA to do well, she said, adding that she also wished everyone on behalf of the Jagannath Temple. Mamata also took the opportunity to criticize the BJP-led government, saying, Not a single Indo-Bangladesh border has been shut. If it had been, we would have received instructions. We have no such instructions. This matter is entirely under the Government of India, and we want them to protect minorities.
The leaders of the parties in the INDIA alliance are set to meet after the current Parliament session, marking the first meeting since the Lok Sabha elections and following Congress’s significant electoral losses in Haryana and Maharashtra. This shift in Congress’s fortunes has fueled calls for Mamata Banerjee to take the lead. One of the first to support this was Shiv Sena UBT’s Priyanka Chaturvedi. She has shown a successful model in West Bengal by keeping the BJP out of power and implementing strong welfare schemes. Her election experience and fighting spirit make her a strong candidate. When the INDIA bloc meets, our senior leaders will decide together.
Sanjay Raut, her party colleague, also expressed a desire for Mamata to play a significant role, stating, We want her to be a major partner in the INDIA alliance. We will soon visit Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata to discuss.
Responsibility to lead the INDIA bloc should be given to Mamata, says Lalu Prasad
Lalu Prasad expressed his strong support for Mamata Banerjee as the leader of the INDIA bloc, stating, “The responsibility to lead the INDIA bloc should be given to Mamata Banerjee. I agree with it. Nothing will happen if Congress objects. It should be given to Mamata Banerjee,” while speaking to the media in Patna on Tuesday.
This endorsement came two days after Mamata Banerjee voiced dissatisfaction with how the INDIA bloc is currently functioning. In an interview on December 6, Mamata said, “What can I do if they cannot run the show? I do not lead the front. Those who are in leadership positions there should think about it. But still, I am maintaining my connections with the regional and national parties.
She also mentioned that, if necessary, she could take the lead in running the opposition bloc from West Bengal, though she did not desire it. “There are some who cannot tolerate me. If given the responsibility, though I do not want that, I can run it (INDIA bloc) from West Bengal. But I do not want to stay away from Bengal. I was born here and will die here,” she added.
Lalu’s statement has raised questions about the future of the Opposition group, especially after several electoral defeats. Mamata’s ambition and Lalu’s support reflect the growing influence of regional leaders, which may push Congress to the sidelines. Earlier, senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav had remarked that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is not the leader of the INDIA bloc, suggesting that Congress’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections might have prompted Mamata to make her statements.