Let's go for federal opposition front to finish BJP: Mamata to Sonia

NEW DELHI: Taking forward her idea of a "united opposition" in the form of a federal force including the Congress party, to "eradicate BJP politically" from the country, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee told Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday that Congress should cooperate in allowing each of the regional parties to fight BJP in 2019 in their respective strongholds.

After a half-hour meeting with Sonia at her 10, Janpath residence, Mamata told the media that she discussed the "political situation in the country" with Gandhi with whom she has "always had a good relationship and will continue to have a good relationship." The TMC chief also said that Sonia had been unwell but she has fully recovered now.

Mamata said she informed Sonia about her interactions with a host of other party leaders on Tuesday and that they all agreed that the fight against BJP will have to be fought together.

"I have said that it should be a one-to-one fight against BJP by each party in their places of strength and the others should support it. Like in Karnataka Congress is strong… it will fight BJP one-on-one… Congress will do well in Karnataka." She mentioned to Sonia the strength of RJD (Lalu ji) in Bihar and the strengths of SP and BSP (Akhileshji and Mayawatiji) in UP.

"We have discussed this issue (each party fighting in their stronghold) and I said that all state regional parties should form a united conclave and Congress should be a strong part of it," Mamata said elaborating on her idea of a federal formation of parties to counter BJP.

The TMC chief said she told Sonia that "BJP should be politically finished from the country. Other than vendetta politics, BJP has done nothing."

Lashing out at the ruling BJP, Mamata said, "I am upset about the disinvestment of Air India which is the pride of our country."

Apart from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who she meets almost every time she is in Delhi, the Bengal CM met disgruntled BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha and Arun Shourie, before her meeting with Sonia Gandhi. They appreciated her efforts to bring together all regional forces against the Modi government ahead of the coming assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

After the meeting, Shourie said the TMC chief's theory of putting up a one-on-one fight against BJP in every state was the right path, to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "If the one-on-one formula is implemented, the opposition will be able to corner 69 per cent of votes," he said.

Though Yashwant Sinha did not clarify on whether he or Shatrughan Sinha would join a united force against the BJP, he said, "Mamata is our old cabinet colleague. Her personality is known to everyone. The role she has taken to save the country is appreciable. In future also, we will support her."