The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is more interested in dislodging the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Center than leading the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

Close on the heels of some senior INDIA leaders advocating Banerjee’s cause for leading the opposition alliance, senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said that “Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that she is not interested in any 'chair' in Delhi. She is more interested in building an alternative platform which can defeat the BJP.”

Curiously, instead of dwelling on the Banerjee’s cause that was recently upheld by her party MP Sagarika Ghosh and often discussed in the TMC mouthpiece Jago Bangla, Ghosh tended to shift the fulcrum of discussion on the Congress’ failure to lead the Opposition in Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and more recently Maharashtra saying a time had come when the Congress party should start doing some self-introspection on the causes of its repeated failures.

Incidentally the Bengal Chief Minister who has been touring East Midnapore earlier expressed gratitude to the senior INDIA leaders for reposing faith on her but avoided making any assertive statement on the contentious issue.

“I am grateful to all the leaders who have honoured me. I wish good health to all of them. May they be well, may their party be well. May India be well,” she said in a brief statement.

However voicing her frustration post INDIA’s repeated defeats in a number of States as also in Delhi Banerjee had said “I created the ‘INDIA’ alliance. If those leading it cannot manage it well, then give me a chance. I am ready to lead the alliance from Bengal.”

Early this week senior INDIA leader and RJD patriarch Lalu Yadav once known for his unwavering faith in Rahul Gandhi said “Mamata Banerjee should be chosen as the leader of the ‘INDIA’ alliance. There’s no point in Congress opposing this. She should be made the leader.”