‘Will back BJP’s strongest opponent’: MP on AAP support
Times of India | 16 January 2025
12 Kolkata: Explaining Trinamool's rationale for backing AAP for the Delhi assembly polls, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said on Wednesday: "If defeating BJP is our collective aim, why weaken the party which is the strongest to take them on at a particular place?"
Speaking to reporters in South 24 Parganas' Falta, Banerjee said, "When the INDIA bloc was formed, everyone backed the decision to support the regional parties wherever they are strong — Trinamool Congress in Bengal, DMK in Tamil Nadu, or JMM in Jharkhand. AAP got 67 out of the 70 seats in Delhi in the last polls. We should support them."
Banerjee added: "In places where Congress is strong, we would support them... Who can defeat BJP in Delhi — AAP or Congress? AAP. We will support or strengthen those fighting hard to defeat BJP. Otherwise, it would be beneficial for BJP."
Attacking BJP, Banerjee said: "The people of Ayodhya have given a befitting answer to communalism and politics of division. We don't have to say anything else."
Asked how many seats TMC expected to win in the 2026 Bengal assembly polls, Banerjee said, "We contest elections to win. It is up to the people who they will vote for, but we will contest in all 294 seats to win, even if there is a seat where we might be weak. There is nothing called ‘uttorbongo' (north Bengal) in my dictionary. There is only one Bengal. Whatever happens, will happen uniformly in the state."