Mon Nov 25 17:20:46 UTC 2024: ## TMC MP Pushes for Mamata Banerjee as INDIA Bloc Leader After Congress Setbacks

**New Delhi:** Following the Trinamool Congress’s sweep of six assembly seats in recent by-elections and citing the Congress party’s recent electoral defeats in Maharashtra and Haryana, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has urged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee be named the leader of the INDIA opposition bloc.

Banerjee criticized the Congress’s performance, highlighting their poor showing in the Maharashtra assembly elections where they secured only 16 seats compared to the BJP’s 132. He pointed to similar losses in Haryana, arguing that the Congress’s failures have impacted the entire INDIA alliance. He emphasized the need for a designated leader to effectively unite the opposition and provide strong leadership against the BJP.

Banerjee contrasted the Congress’s losses with the TMC’s resounding victory in the Bengal by-elections, winning all six seats by significant margins. He attributed this success to Mamata Banerjee’s strong leadership and fighting spirit, advocating for her as the ideal candidate to lead the INDIA bloc due to her extensive experience in both state and national politics.

While acknowledging that there is no inherent division within the opposition, Banerjee urged the Congress to adopt a more inclusive approach, suggesting that their failure to consult with other alliance partners in Haryana and Maharashtra contributed to their losses. He stressed the importance of introspection and a unified strategy to effectively challenge the BJP-led government. The core message, Banerjee reiterated, is the need for a single leader to steer the INDIA alliance towards a common goal.

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