Mamata Banerjee ready to work with Congress, proposes a new solution

Kolkata: Congress' win in Karnataka appears to have changed Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's mind about Opposition unity. While speaking about regional parties banding together for the 2024 election, she roped in the Congress.

"Wherever regional parties are strong, the BJP cannot fight. The Karnataka verdict is a verdict against the BJP. People are antagonised. Atrocities are happening. The economy is ruined. Democratic rights are being bulldozed and even the wrestlers are not being spared," she said.

The West Bengal Chief Minister has been calling for Opposition unity for sometime but always remained apprehensive of including Congress. She has also accused Congress of working against her party in the state and alleged that Congress helped the BJP.

Today, she was speaking at a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna when she said regional parties should get a more significant role in the 2024 fight against the BJP.

In her new strategy for the next big election, Congress is included.

"In this situation, Whoever is strong in some place, in their region, they should fight together. Let's take Bengal. In Bengal, we (Trinamool) should fight. In Delhi, AAP should fight. In Bihar, they are together. Nitishji (Nitish Kumar), Tejashwi (Yadav), and Congress are together. They will decide. I cannot decide on their formula. In Chennai, they (MK Stalin's DMK and the Congress) have a friendship and they can fight together. In Jharkhand also, they (JMM-Congress) are together, and in other states also. So it is their choice."

She also asserted that Congress should focus on winning its own seats. "But I think wherever the regional parties are strong, whether it's UP, Bihar or Odisha, or Bengal, or Jharkhand or Andhra Pradesh or Telangana, there are so many states, the strong party must be given priority. And wherever Congress is strong in their 200 seats or something, what we have calculated, let them fight and we will support them."

"But they have to see that they have to support other political parties also. I support you for Karnataka but you are fighting against me every day. That should not be the policy. This is for everybody. If you want some good thing, then you have to sacrifice yourself also in some areas," she added.

She further explained: "Suppose it is in UP, then Akhilesh (Yadav) has to get priority. Ajit Singh is also there and there is a combination. I am not saying Congress should not fight there. Let us decide. It is not at the final stage. When this matter is discussed, we can discuss this matter in detail. Now everybody is thinking something."

"There should be a level playing ground to save the country, save democracy and save the people of this country," said the Bengal CM.