Mamta Banerjee met Sharad
New Delhi:
The Congress today underlined that it is time to show opposition unity, a day after Mamata Banerjee – in a bid to increase her role in the opposition – spurned the grand old party.
“UPA. Without Congress, UPA will be a body without a soul. Time to show opposition unity,” Congress leader Kapil Sibal tweeted this morning in response to Bengal Chief Minister’s “There is no UPA” remark, NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai after his meeting with
The Trinamool Congress was once part of the UPA or United Progressive Alliance, an alliance of several parties including the Congress, which was in power at the Center for 10 years from 2004 to 2014 when the BJP came to power.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, “We have tried to involve them (Trinamool) in various socio-political issues where Congress has made its name in the Rajya Sabha.
The Trinamool Congress, since its thumping victory in the Bengal elections in April-May, has been gaining weight to project Mamata Banerjee as the leader of the larger opposition.
Efforts to make the Trinamool the next big national party after the Congress reinforce this notion, with a steady stream of up-and-coming leaders giving it a foothold in several states – Goa, Meghalaya, Bihar and Haryana.
When asked about Sharad Pawar to lead the UPA, Mamata Banerjee said, “Is there UPA? Now there is no UPA? What is UPA? We will solve all the issues. We want a strong alternative.”
Last week in Delhi, Mamata Banerjee extended an open invitation to any leader who wanted to join the Trinamool’s fight against the BJP. She was furious when asked about a possible meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, questioning whether it was “compulsory”.
In the West Bengal assembly elections, the Congress and the Left fought together against the Trinamool and the BJP.
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