BJP leader Pravin Darekar on Sunday stated that Sharad Pawar support for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s willingess to lead the INDIA bloc, meant that the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief wanted to convey Rahul Gandhi’s leadership is “incapable” and that now Congress is “unable” to lead the opposition alliance.
“I think this means that Pawar Sahab wants to say that Rahul Gandhi’s leadership is not capable and Congress can’t lead now. So, Pawar Sahab’s direction is towards one side and words on the other side. Only time will tell what is in his mind,” Darekar told ANI.
Sharad Pawar on Saturday acknowledged the leadership potential of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, emphasising her prominence as a national leader and the competence of her party’s representatives in Parliament.
Pawar expressed his support, stating, “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 to Parliament are responsible, dutiful, and well-aware people. Therefore, she has the right to say so.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also expressed support for Mamata Banerjee’s role in the alliance, saying that they also want her to be a major partner. He added that they would soon meet her in Kolkata. “We know Mamata ji’s opinion. We also want her to be a major partner of the INDIA bloc. Whether it is Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, or Shiv Sena, we are all together. We will soon go to talk to Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata,” Raut said at a press conference.
On December 3, Congress MP Kirti Azad responded to suggestions by TMC leaders that Mamata Banerjee should lead the INDIA bloc following Congress’ defeat in the Maharashtra assembly elections. Azad praised Mamata, saying, “Mamata Banerjee has a 100 per cent record. Whenever Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced a humiliating defeat, it was only in West Bengal… Whenever he comes to insult Bengal and its honour, her vote share increases.”
He further said that Mamata Banerjee is known for her articulate views and that “She is a very senior leader. She speaks clearly. She (Mamata Banerjee) resides in every household in West Bengal, in every household in the country… Mamata Banerjee is someone who takes everyone together. She calls people only after making preparations and taking her time,” he added.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Darekar also hit out at the opposition (MVA) MLAs after they refused and later agreed to take oath, saying that opposition is continuing its drama. He said that this is an insult to the people of Maharashtra.
He said, “Opposition continues its drama. If they didn’t want to take oath (as MLAs), why are they doing it today? I think they could not do full drama. The first part of their drama ended up being a flop show and it ended…This is an insult to the people…They won’t forgive them.”