NEW DELHI: BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh on Saturday accused the INDIA bloc of lacking coherence and being weighed down by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed willingness to lead the opposition alliance.
Chugh dismissed Banerjee’s remarks as a reflection of the internal power struggle within the bloc. “This is a power struggle between people who do not match with each other. The alliance and Congress have completely succumbed under the weight of Rahul Gandhi. Congress and Rahul Gandhi are nothing more than a liability. The sole purpose of the INDIA bloc is to ensure political placement and protect a corrupt clan,” Chugh told ANI on Saturday.
This comes after Mamata Banerjee, who has expressed dissatisfaction with the bloc’s functioning, stated in an interview that she is willing to take charge if required. “I had formed the INDIA bloc; now it is up to those leading the front to manage it. If they can’t run the show, what can I do? I would just say that everyone needs to be taken along,” the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said.
Banerjee added that she could manage the dual responsibility of running the alliance while continuing her role as West Bengal’s chief minister. “If given the opportunity, I would ensure its smooth functioning. I don’t want to go outside West Bengal, but I can run it from here,” she said.
Her comments come amid growing criticism of the INDIA bloc over internal differences and lack of coordination among its over two dozen member parties. The TMC has been vocal in pushing for Banerjee to take a leadership role in the alliance, with party MP Kalyan Banerjee recently urging Congress and other allies to set aside egos and rally behind her.
The BJP celebrated a record-breaking performance in Maharashtra, securing a landslide victory in the state, while the INDIA bloc saw a resurgence in Jharkhand, largely driven by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). However, Congress delivered its worst-ever performance in Maharashtra and played a diminished role in Jharkhand, where the JMM took center stage.
In contrast, the TMC has bolstered its standing in West Bengal with recent bypoll victories over the BJP, reinforcing Mamata Banerjee’s position.
