As some leaders from its fold joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the last few months, the Congress has now decided to launch an all-out attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led party with its top leaders leading the charge. The Congress has arrived at the all-out attack decision, even as poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Thursday targeted the Congress by stating that its leadership was not the divine right of an individual, and that the party has lost more than 90% elections in the last 10 years.
The open clash between the TMC and Congress emerged even as Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu, raising concerns over the continued disruptions in the ongoing winter session of the Parliament over the suspension of MPs, on Thursday urged both the Opposition and treasury benches to hold discussions and let the House function. After the commencement of business on the fourth day of the ongoing winter session, Naidu said the House could not transact any business during the last three days. Speaking at the House, the Rajya Sabha Chairman said, “I urge both the sides of this august House to talk it out and let the House do its mandated job.”
Mamata Banerjee’s “there is no UPA” remark after a meeting in Mumbai with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, an ally of Congress in Maharashtra, evoked a strong response from the party, currently being led by interim president Sonia Gandhi. At an event in Mumbai, the TMC chief said if all the regional parties come together then defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be very easy.
According to sources in Congress, the decision to attack Mamata was taken at a meeting held on Wednesday night. “There were discussions among the top leaders of Congress late night on Wednesday in which it has been decided that the party will now make big attacks against Mamata.” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha termed the meeting between Mamata Banerjee and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar as a “pre-meditated conspiracy” to weaken the grand old party and alleged the TMC chief had become “BJP’s oxygen supplier.”
So far from Congress, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was taking the lead in vehemently criticising the TMC chief as he has an old feud with her in West Bengal. It may be noted that Congress and Left parties fought together in West Bengal Assembly polls against the TMC and the BJP. Till now it has been the Congress’ strategy that there should be scope to improve relations in the name of Opposition unity. A section in the party has also been in favour of rapprochement with Mamata for a long time.
Sources said that the responsibility of making political attacks on Mamata Banerjee has been tasked to top leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Digvijaya Singh and Randeep Surjewala. They added that the special responsibility was given to Digvijaya Singh because he had been openly advocating coordination with leaders who left Congress like, Jagan Mohan Reddy, Sharad Pawar and K. Chandrasekhar Rao from the high command.
Targeting the TMC chief, Youth Congress chief B.V. Srinivas wrote on Twitter, “Ask any question to Modi ji, you will be called a Deshdrohi.. Ask any question to Mamta Di, you will be called a Maoist… What’s the difference between both?”
Meanwhile, calling for the selection of the opposition leader in a democratic manner, poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Thursday targeted the Congress by stating that its leadership was not the divine right of an individual and pointed out that the party has lost more than 90% elections in the last 10 years. Taking to Twitter, Kishor said, “The IDEA and SPACE that Congress represents is vital for a strong opposition. But Congress’ leadership is not the DIVINE RIGHT of an individual especially when the party has lost more than 90 per cent elections in the last 10 years. Let opposition leadership be decided Democratically.” Notably, Kishor was roped in by the TMC for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021 resulting in a landslide victory.
Criticizing Mamata Banerjee’s “there is no UPA”, Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that Congress’ aim is to defeat BJP while some people are only helping the ruling party at the Centre. Kharge said, “Mamata Banerjee is absolutely wrong that the UPA does not exist. It is also wrong to launch personal attacks on Rahul Gandhi. Mamata Banerjee’s allegation that Rahulji is not visible anywhere is wrong. Congress is raising every issue and is fighting everywhere. Our aim is to defeat BJP but some people are helping that party only. Congress is in power in many states and also in Opposition in some places.” “We have tried to include them (TMC) in various socio-political issues where Congress made its name. The opposition should not get divided and fight amongst themselves. We have to fight against BJP together,” added the senior Congress leader.
Meanwhile, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from the party’s Mumbai unit has filed a complaint against Mamata Banerjee for “showing utter disrespect to the national anthem” by allegedly singing it while in sitting position and then “abruptly stopping after 4 or 5 verses”, during her visit to the city on Wednesday.
