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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee addresses a public meeting for Lok Sabha elections, in Bongaon. (Image: PTI)
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, however, made it clear that the alliance was a no-go in the state. But, she said, when it comes to Delhi, the TMC will help the INDIA bloc in every way
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress had decided to fight the Lok Sabha elections alone in the state after seat-sharing issues with the INDIA bloc, said she will “provide outside support” to the opposition front if the BJP loses.
According to a report published by ABP, her strong statement comes amid speculation that she may be considered as the prime ministerial candidate, if the opposition comes to power.
“The BJP will lose in the first four phases of the polls. There is no chance of it winning in the remaining three. They will make a lot of noise, but they will not be able to win. Many people are making big calculations. I am talking about Delhi. We will provide leadership to the INDIA alliance, and help them in every way from outside,” she was quoted as saying.
Despite being one of the instrumental players in the formation of the INDIA bloc and even proposing Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s name for the prime ministerial face, the chief minister had taken a step back due to a seat-sharing tussle with the grand old party in Bengal. In fact, the Congress decided to team up with another INDIA bloc ally, the CPM, to contest the polls in the state making it a direct fight with the TMC in many seats.
Banerjee, however, made it clear that the alliance was a no-go in the state while saying the Congress-CPM were indirectly backing the BJP. But, she said, when it comes to Delhi, the TMC will provide leadership to the INDIA bloc and help it every way from the outside.
The CM said the BJP understands the situation well, despite its “400 paar” slogan. She also mentioned former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ‘India Shining’ campaign in 2004 in this context and said everyone thought he would win, but the mood of the country had changed and people did not to vote for the NDA.
A day before as well, addressing back-to-back rallies in Kalyani and Serampore, she asserted that the INDIA bloc will form the next government at the Centre by winning more than 300 Lok Sabha seats. She claimed that the “only guarantee is that BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not get a third term at the Centre”.
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