Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed her gratitude to Opposition leaders who have backed her as the leader of INDIA bloc.
“I am grateful to all the leaders who have honoured me. I wish good health to all of them. May they be well, may their party be well. May India be well,” Mamata said.
Voicing dissatisfaction with the current functioning of INDIA bloc, Mamata suggested that she could take charge of the INDIA bloc if given the chance.
“I had formed the INDIA bloc, now it is up to those leading the front to manage it. If they can’t run the show, what can I do? I would just say that everyone needs to be taken along,” the Bengal CM said in the course of an interview with Bengali news channel News 18 Bangla.
Mamata has emerged as a strong anti-BJP force with the saffron party coming up short in Lok Sabha, state Assembly and byelections, despite a mountain of corruption allegations against the ruling party Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Asked about her reluctance to take up a leadership role within INDIA bloc, Mamata replied: “If given the opportunity, I would ensure its smooth functioning. I don’t want to go outside Bengal, but I can run it from here.”
Among those who have expressed their support for the TMC supremo include former Bihar CM and RJD chief Lalu Yadav and NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar.
Taking a dig at the principal national Opposition party, which is part of the Opposition alliance, Lalu quipped: “Congress’s objection means nothing. We will support Mamata… Mamata Banerjee should be given the leadership (of the INDIA Bloc)… We will form the government again in 2025.”
Pawar, another veteran politician, felt that Mamata is capable of leading the alliance.
“Yes certainly (she is capable of leading the alliance), she is a prominent leader of this nation… she has that capability.. the elected leaders she sent in the Parliament are responsible, dutiful and well aware of people… therefore she has the right to say so,” said the octogenarian, who has served as Maharashtra CM and held several portfolios in the Union cabinet.
