New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday made it clear that Congress cannot be excluded from any anti-BJP formation in the next Lok Sabha polls in which parties dominant in a state will take the lead in putting a one-to-one fight against the ruling alliance.
Banerjee, who has been camping here for the last two days, drove to the 10 Janpath residence of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and inquired about her health and discussed the political situation.
Praising Gandhi, Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said Gandhi is a senior leader of the country and continues to play a role in politics. “There has always been a good relationship. Whenever I come to Delhi I always meet her. I came to see her. She is fine now.”
“I told her that in 2019 elections there should be one-to-one (contest) from everywhere. In all states those parties which have stronghold in their own area they should fight from there.
“We want Congress to be with us. Congress should also help in this one-to-one fight. We have spoken to other parties. All states regional parties, in a kind of conclave, should work together,” she added.
Referring to poll-bound Karanataka, she said Congress was in the government and should return to power.
“In Karnataka, we want Congress to win because it is strong there… In Bihar, (RJD chief) Laluji (Prasad) and Congress will fight together. In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh and Mayawatiji should do it.”
Banerjee’s remarks assume significance in the context of a statement made by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who heads the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, recently after meeting her that the two discussed formation of a federal front against both Congress and the BJP.
She said BJP should be voted out of power in the country and it will be defeated if opposition parties come together.
“BJP will be removed only if there is one-to-one (contest). I am 100 percent sure. We want that whichever party is stong in a state, they should fight one-is-to-one to defeat the BJP.”
Banerjee said she also discussed “political vendetta” of the BJP goverment with Gandhi.
“To destroy democarcy, the kind of atrocities that is going on..we have discussed about it as well. BJP has only promoted political vendetta in the country. They have not done anything for the people.”
She said an alliance will depend on the concerned parties.
“Whereever there is an alliance, it will depend on the parties there. Any political party can decide,” she said, adding that Congress must build alliances like it has with the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
IANS