BJP Slams Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi After West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Expresses Interest To Run INDI Alliance

Responding to media reports about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressing her willingness to lead the INDI Alliance, BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari on Saturday (7 December) said that the opposition bloc lacks confidence in Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra’s leadership.

He further alleged that even alliance members label Rahul Gandhi a "childish person."

"No leader of the INDI alliance believes in the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra. The INDI alliance believes that Rahul Gandhi is a political failure... Sometimes Akhilesh Yadav says he is the leader, sometimes Mamata Banerjee says she is the leader, sometimes Stalin says he is the leader and everyone says in one voice that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra are not the leader. We do not call Rahul Gandhi a childish person, the INDI alliance calls Rahul Gandhi a childish person," Bhandari was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Banerjee on Friday (6 December) said that she was ready to take up the leadership of the INDI Alliance.

In an interview to News18 Bangla, Mamata said, “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".

Asked if she would take charge of the bloc, she said, “If given the opportunity, I would ensure its smooth functioning.”

In the interview, Mamata said she was up to managing the INDIA bloc along with her responsibilities as CM.

“I don’t want to go outside Bengal, but I can run it (the INDIA bloc) from here,” she said, Indian Express reported.

On 3 December, reacting to suggestions from TMC leaders about Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leading the INDIA bloc after Congress's humiliating loss in the Maharashtra assembly polls, TMC MP Kirti Azad stated that the TMC chief takes everyone along.

"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," the TMC leader said.

Azad added that Mamata Banerjee is widely recognised across India.

"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 said.

Earlier on 26 November, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee suggested that one strong leader is needed to lead the INDI Alliance following the defeat of Congress in Haryana and Maharashtra assembly polls.

He had further said that the opposition alliance should be stronger to take on the BJP.

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