Mamata not averse to anti-BJP coalition

Trinamool Congress chief stresses on ‘collective leadership’

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday threw enough hints that she is not averse to taking the lead in bringing together opposition parties on a single platform against the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave East, the Trinamool Congress chief also stressed on “collective leadership” and favoured the national opposition continuing to work together to put up a credible challenge to the Modi government.

“It depends ... Already, we are working together in Parliament. We will see. I went to RJD chief Lalu Prasadji in Patna.

“I have a good relationship with Samajwadi Party chief Akhileshji and BSP chief Mayawatiji in Uttar Pradesh,” she said.

“Also, we have relationship with Stalin (of DMK) and Naveen Patnaikji in Odisha. The other day, Uddhav (of Shiv Sena) came to meet me in Maharashtra. I maintain the best of relations with so many other people. Even within the BJP, I maintain good relations with some people but not with all the people,” Banerjee said in response to a query on forming a grand coalition before the 2019 general election.

There was a big round of laughter when she said “not with all the people” in BJP, an apparent jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah who have been gunning for her.

No personal agenda

Asked about opposition parties coming together to fight the next Lok Sabha polls, she said: “There is no personal agenda against the prime minister. Whenever public are facing problems, it is our duty to raise our voice. I believe in the collective leadership ... At this present situation, all are working together and that is the best policy. Let us work together.

“In Bengal, the Congress and the Left, they are working with the BJP. But at the national level, we feel we must work together. We are working together with other parties,” Banerjee said when asked to clarify what she meant by collective leadership.

Asked about her meeting with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray despite being seen as a “secular champion”, Banerjee shot back: “First, I do not want to take any secularism certificate from anybody because it is my life and I maintain that. I am grateful to them as they accompanied us when we met President Pranab Mukherjee after the demonetisation announcement in November last year.