12 Kolkata: Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday advocated for CM Mamata Banerjee to lead INDIA, stressing that she was the "most senior" neta in the opposition bloc.
"She is the most senior politician in the bloc. This is her third term as CM. She was an MP for seven terms and was also a central minister four times. I feel there should be a detailed discussion on this," he said while speaking to reporters outside Parliament.
Stressing that no party should be treated as small, Abhishek pointed out that Trinamool was the only party in the INDIA bloc that had defeated BJP as well as Congress. "This shows its strength. Undermining regional parties is incorrect — this is the mistake both Congress and BJP make. We have come here after being elected by the people, though the number is 29 (MPs in Lok Sabha), one should never undermine people. We have a good strike rate against BJP. TMC is the only party that BJP netas have joined, unlike other scenarios where BJP poaches politicians. We have seen how BJP breaks parties," he said.
Abhishek's statements came after multiple INDIA netas, including NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, endorsed Banerjee's leadership. The CM had expressed gratitude to all who reposed faith in her.
Regarding ‘one nation one election', Abhishek said the thought that polls would now be held only once across the country was laughable. "In 2021, elections were held in Bengal, Assam and Kerala simultaneously. The elections in Bengal were conducted in eight phases and that too, during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Will those who conduct a state election in eight phases hold a nationwide election in one phase?" the TMC general secretary said.
Abhishek further said that BJP was trying to mislead the public with these concepts. "If electorates get to use their voting rights every two years, govt will be under pressure. The rights of the people are being snatched. This is what we have highlighted — an attempt to change the Constitution. It is my right to cast my vote during the assembly, panchayat, municipality and Lok Sabha polls. I have a right to vote in all these elections and you (Centre) will snatch away this right from me and say I can vote only once? How is this feasible? No matter how hard they try, as long as we are here, we will not allow this," he said.
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