NEW DELHI: The muscle-flexing by the INDIA bloc allies has started just a day before the all-important meeting of alliance leaders in New Delhi on Tuesday. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, in Delhi for the meeting, said the INDIA bloc will decide its prime ministerial candidate after the 2024 general election, expressing confidence that the alliance will iron out all issues, including over seat-sharing, and defeat the BJP.
She also dismissed suggestions that the alliance has lost time in putting things in order, saying: “It is better late than never”. She expressed confidence that a three-way alliance is very much possible in West Bengal between her TMC, the Congress and the Left. “The BJP is not strong, we are weak. We need to work together to overcome it,” Ms Banerjee told reporters, in reply to a question on the BJP’s rising influence, especially in the Hindi belt. She also said that she doesn't discriminate between the Hindi belt and other regions.
When asked if she wants an alliance with the Congress in West Bengal, the chief minister said that she is “open to talk and discuss” the matter. “Somebody must bell the cat… I don't have any problem if they have genuine things. But in West Bengal, they have only two seats.”, she said. Speaking about the outcome of the meeting, she said: “I think all will be together. There is an opportunity to discuss this (seat-sharing) matter… Tomorrow is a great opportunity to discuss it in detail… The majority of political parties will agree to one-to-one seat-sharing, maybe one or two may not agree… I don't have any motto or vendetta”.
Reacting to the expulsion of MPs from both the Houses of Parliament, Ms Banerjee said: “If they think that the House is supreme, why are they afraid?... If they suspend all the members, how will they raise their voice? They are passing three important bills… There is a system in democracy… Who will raise the voice of the people? The voices of the people have been choked.”
The meeting assumes significance as it is taking place almost after a gap of four months. The last meeting called by the Congress abruptly had to be changed to a parliamentary floor leaders’ meeting as the top leaders were busy.
