New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday proposed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s name as I.N.D.I.A. bloc’s prime ministerial face against PM Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The suggestions from the opposition leaders come as the fourth meeting of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc took place in New Delhi today. Banerjee and Kejriwal suggested Kharge’s name as PM candidate for the upcoming general elections. However, Kharge turned down the offer, saying let’s win first and this thing will be decided later, News18 reported quoting sources.
“ I work for the downtrodden. Let’s win first. Then we will see. I don’t seek anything. If we don’t have MPs then what is the point of discussing the face? So first we need to win seats. First, we will win then the PM face will be decided,” the Congress president said.
MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) MP Vaiko, who was present in the meeting, said there was no opposition to that suggestion of making Kharge the opposition’s PM face.
Congress leader PC Thomas said, “During the suggestions that were made, I think it was Mamata (Banerjee) who said that it will be good for INDIA (alliance) to project a Dalit PM (face). But there was no discussion on this as such.” The report quoted sources as saying that the alliance will kickstart a joint campaign for the 2024 General Elections on January 30.
