Mamata ‘natural choice’ to lead INDIA bloc, says TMC, lauds Pawar’s support for Didi captaincy
Times of India | 9 December 2024
12 Kolkata: Reacting to NCP (SP) senior Sharad Pawar's statement that Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had the potential to lead the INDI alliance, Trinamool on Sunday said that his statements only reinforced the belief that "CM Banerjee has the courage, the commitment and the experience to take on BJP head-on and lead the fight against the forces which are threatening to tear away our country with communal hatred."
Speaking to a private TV channel on Friday, CM Banerjee said that she was ready to lead the INDIA bloc if asked to do so, but would do it from Bengal. On Saturday, Pawar had expressed his support, stating, "Yes, certainly (she is capable of leading the alliance). She is a prominent leader of this nation... she has that capability. The elected leaders she sent to Parliament are responsible, dutiful and well-aware people." Shiv Sena (UBT) neta Sanjay Raut had also expressed support for Banerjee's role in the alliance. He added that they would soon meet her in Kolkata.
Trinamool's Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien said on Sunday, "Trinamool Congress is the only party in INDI alliance which has no electoral alliance with the Congress. All others have. Moreover, over the past five to seven years, Congress's strike rate against BJP in a one-on-one contest was a mere 10%, while for Trinamool Congress it was 70%. These two points underscore why CM Banerjee is a natural choice to lead the INDIA bloc."
The party's Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose, in a statement, said, "Several top leaders of the INDI alliance, including NCP (SP)'s Sharad Pawar, have now called Mamata Banerjee to take on a leadership role in the INDI alliance. Under Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress has consistently — and constantly — defeated BJP. The track record of Trinamool in defeating BJP is unparalleled. TMC trounced BJP in 2021, 2024 LS polls and 2024 bypolls."
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