TMC chief bats for non-Congress Opp unity to take on might of BJP
Continuing her one-upmanship over the Congress leadership, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday questioned the very existence of United Progressive Alliance (UPA), by saying, “What’s UPA? There’s no UPA now”, but stressed on the need for bringing together like-minded Opposition parties as a “strong alternative” to fight the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Interacting with the media persons jointly with NCP chief Sharad Pawar after meeting the latter at his Mumbai residence, Mamata negated the very presence of UPA in the country’s political spectrum by saying: “Kya UPA hain? Abhi UPA nahi hain” (What’s UPA?.There’s no UPA”) and indicated that she was prepared to go “with or without” the Congress in the proposed Opposition alternative.
Mamata, who has of late been desperately trying to occupy the Congress’ space by way of aggressive posturing like the one witnessed in Goa and poaching of 12 out of 17 Congress MLAs in Meghalaya, indirectly accused the Sonia Gandhi-led party of lacking in “the will” to fight the ruling BJP at the Centre.
The West Bengal Chief Minister, who appeared to be making the most of the NCP chief’s presence to undermine the role of the Congress in the proposed Opposition front being cobbled by her, said, “Like what Sharadji said, there should be a strong alternative that believes in fighting it out (against the BJP). If somebody does not want to fight, what can we do? They should at least be ready to fight by being within the force”.
Asked if Pawar being the senior-most leader should be the chairman of UPA, Mamata, who is on a visit to Mumbai, said, “Kya UPA hain? Abhi UPA nahi hain ‘’ (What’s UPA? There’s no UPA”). She chose to remain silent on the issue of the Opposition front’s leadership.
On her plans to cobble a strong alternative to the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Mamata said, “In view of the situation prevailing in the country, we should develop a strong alternative force against the current Government at the Centre. I cannot do it alone but strong like-minded parties should come together”.
Replying to a question, Mamata said: “Sharadji is the senior most leader and I have to come to discuss our political strategies”.
The TMC leader said that she wanted to meet Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, but could not do so as the latter was not keeping well. “I pray to God that he recovers from his illness fast... He sent his party leaders Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray to my hotel. We had a good discussion”.
Pawar, who earlier while explaining the intent behind the West Bengal Chief Minister meeting him, said: “Her intention is that in today’s situation at the national level like-minded forces have to come together and set up a collective leadership platform and provide a strong alternative to the BJP….She had a positive discussion with all of us”.
“The strong alternative means an alternative in which the people of the country have confidence. When such an alternative develops, we will go in that direction,” the NCP chief said.
When asked if Congress would be a part of the proposed “strong alternative”, Pawar said: “All those opposed to the BJP are welcome to join us. There is no question of excluding anyone.”
Asked as to who would lead the proposed Opposition front against the BJP, Pawar said: “The question before us is not who will lead the Opposition front, but we are interested in building a strong front that will inspire the confidence of the people. Who will lead the Opposition front to elections and who will all be there in the front is a secondary issue”.
Responding to a query linked to Mamta’s indirect criticism of the Congress “that it is necessary for party leaders to remain in the field and not go to foreign countries frequently and that you can defeat the BJP only being in the field”, Pawar said: “The kind of victory that Mamata Banerjee scored in West Bengal is the result of the hard work put by her lakhs of Trinamul Congress party colleagues on the field. She has spoken from her personal experience. We welcome it”. .
Earlier in his preface to the media interaction, Pawar said: “Mamta Banerjee’s visit to Mumbai is natural, because West Bengal and Maharashtra have an old association. She just came to review various political issues with us”.
“She was also eager to meet and interact with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and myself. Because of ill-health, Thackeray was unable to meet her. From their party, Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray had a meeting with her. Today, my colleagues and I had a long chat with her”.