No national govt possible without Cong: Sena’s Raut

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 30

In a sign of relief for the Congress, which is at the centre of attack from the TMC for not playing along with the wider opposition, the Shiv Sena on Saturday said no national government in 2024 was possible without the Congress.

Speaking at an event in Pune, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut noted, “A coalition government with the Congress as a principal player will come to power in the 2024 General Election and that is when the one party rule will come to an end.”

One party rule will end in 2024

A coalition govt with Congress as a principal player will come to power in the 2024 elections and that is when the one party rule will come to an end. —Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP

Responding to the remarks of election strategist Prashant Kishor, who recently said the BJP is not going anywhere for many decades to come, Raut said, “The BJP will stay around for many decades but as a principal opposition party.”

Raut added that no national government could be formed without the Congress which was the largest pan-India opposition party with deep roots in Indian history.

“All others are regional parties,” he said in oblique references to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s routine assertions that the Congress must stand behind the TMC to defeat the BJP. Raut said the Congress would play a lead role against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.