Amid TMC’s demand to make party chief Mamata Banerjee the leader of the INDIA bloc, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has also extended support to the West Bengal chief minister.
“Congress’s objection means nothing. We will support Mamata…She should be given the leadership (of the INDIA Bloc)…We will form the government again in 2025,” Yadav said.
#WATCH | Patna: Former Bihar CM and RJD chief Lalu Yadav says, “… 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…” pic.twitter.com/lFjXGkKrPm
— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2024
TMC, Shiv Sena (UBT) Extend Support To Mamata
Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad on Sunday said Banerjee is the “most suitable” for the job as she is the only leader who has repeatedly defeated the BJP.
“She (Mamata) has significant experience and has herself mentioned that she played a key role in forming the INDIA alliance. She has also expressed her willingness to lead the alliance if given the opportunity. She has served as an MP and a Union Minister, and since 2011, she has been the Chief Minister of West Bengal. Also, Trinamool has a much better strike rate than the Congress when it comes to direct fights with the BJP,” Azad told News18.
Mamata recently criticised the Congress over its leadership of the INDIA bloc and said she was ready to accept its leadership if she was asked to.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi had also extended her support to Mamata and said her party would back her if she wants to take up greater responsibility in the alliance.
“She has put forward her statement because she has shown a successful model in West Bengal, where she has kept the BJP away from power and implemented good welfare schemes. Whenever the INDIA bloc meeting takes place, our senior leaders will together take a decision (on leadership),” Chaturvedi said.
Congress In Role Of INDIA Bloc’s Elder Brother: Ajay Rai
Congress sought to reaffirm Rahul’s position as the leader of the alliance. Congress’s UP chief Ajay Rai said the party was in the role of the elder brother in the INDIA alliance and will always remain so. “Rahul Gandhi was our leader and will remain so. The way he worked to unite the country from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Manipur to Maharashtra, he has that capability,” Rai said.