Didi can be PM, says Amartya; 'no vacancy', retorts BJP

KOLKATA: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's statement that Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee "had the ability" to be the next PM, followed by Banerjee's response that his advice was "like an order" to her, drew sharp political reactions on Sunday.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha chief whip Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said: "A number of times Mamata Banerjee has proved her quality to become PM and that quality has been appreciated and affirmed by Amartya Sen." Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said he failed to understand the controversy. "Coalition government has been the reality in India. We had PMs like HD Deve Gowda and IK Gujral heading coalition governments," he said. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said there was "no vacancy for the PM post" in the country. BJP's national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said TMC could not win a single Lok Sabha seat outside West Bengal.