BJP paid price of arrogance, says Abhishek Banerjee, attends INDIA meet
Times of India | 6 June 2024
KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday attended the INDIA bloc meeting at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi. He was seen sitting beside Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the meeting and stood beside Sonia Gandhi and Kharge when the Congress president addressed the media after the meet. He also spoke at length with SP's Akhilesh Singh, sources said.
CM Mamata Banerjee, who contested the polls alone in Bengal, had all along said she was with INDIA at the national level.On Tuesday, after her party won 29 of the state's 42 seats, the CM had said she would help the INDIA bloc form a govt at Centre and had already discussed the issue with her "INDIA friends".
Before leaving for Delhi in the afternoon, Abhishek told reporters at the Kolkata airport, "BJP is paying for its arrogance. They had talked about toppling a democratically elected govt when they came to Bengal and now people have given them a befitting reply."
He added, "A month ago, BJP leaders were flying down to Bengal and saying 'give us 30 seats and Didi's govt will fall'. Now, see the irony, reporters are asking me if NDA govt will survive? Never underestimate the power of a common man."
Asked if Trinamool Congress would play the role of a kingmaker, Abhishek said, "I must say the kingmaker is the general public and not any political leader."
Common man is real kingmaker: Abhishek Banerjee
Speaking to reporter at the Kolkata airport, Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said, “Those who voted against price hike, BJP’s tyranny, communal and divisive politics — each and every common man who voted are the actual kingmakers.”
Abhishek also said BJP had resorted to divisive and communal politics because it could not furnish a report card on development. “I salute everyone who uprooted these communal forces, who only used a section of judiciary, central agencies and media to oppress and bulldoze opponents. It’s a learning for them. The PM or home minister will not have the last word, the common man will.”
The Trinamool general secretary also said the poll results in UP were a manifestation of people’s anger against BJP.
“You (BJP) made Ram Mandir an agenda throughout the country claiming that you brought the Lord inside the temple. How can you say that? Can a human being do that? No wonder Ayodhya defeated you. Prabhu Ram aaye to insaaf aaya,” Abhishek said before flying out around 2.30 pm.