New Delhi, Dec 18: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said the INDIA bloc’s prime ministerial candidate will be decided after the polls, adding that a TMC-Congress-Left alliance, who are part of the opposition grouping, is possible in her state too.
Talking to reporters here, Banerjee expressed confidence the INDIA bloc will resolve all issues including those related to seat-sharing at its meeting on Tuesday.
While stating that the BJP has “media and money power”, Banerjee said people are with opposition parties. She also dismissed suggestions that the alliance has lost time in putting things in order, saying “it is better late than never”.
“Have some faith… We will discuss together, they were busy with elections, we were busy with festivals… every state has their own problem… We are ready to fight every inch,” she said.
Asked about the possibility of an alliance between the TMC-Congress and Left in West Bengal, she said, “someone has to bell the cat”.
“I don’t have any problem if they have the genuine thing. In Bengal they (Congress) have only two seats… I am open to talks,” she said.
“First you have to prepare mentally, in-principal agree, then maybe, one, two political parties may not agree, but if majority of the political parties agree for seat sharing one on one, automatically everyone will come together. I don’t have any differences with anybody, I have political differences… But I don’t have any vendetta not to work with anybody, I can work with anybody.” “I don’t have any problem,” she said when asked about the Left.
She also said she doesn’t discriminate between the Hindi belt and other regions. She also made light of the BJP’s assertion that PM Modi will return for a third term, saying, “I don’t accept that 2024 is a done deal for BJP.” Banerjee, however, admitted that the BJP is a major challenge to the INDIA bloc, and said they have “money power” which opposition doesn’t have. “When so many political parties are together, it is a democracy, different states, different views different opinions, but ultimately INDIA is a platform where we are fighting together,” said Banerjee.
“The BJP doesn’t have any ally. The NDA is gone. We are not like that. It will be better, after elections, we have to see the results, and then to announce the PM candidate. All parties will decide that.” “You can decided how party can do better for the people and motherland. You have to give first priority to the people of India. What is going on right now is autocracy, that is not desired by anyone,” she said. (PTI)
