‘There is no UPA’: Mamata after Pawar meeting
MUMBAI: “What is UPA? There is no UPA,” said West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday after meeting with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar here on Wednesday.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief’s statement on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was made during her three-day visit to Maharashtra’s capital city during which she is meeting leaders of the NCP and Shiv Sena.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Banerjee noted that a firm alternative course should be made to fight against “ongoing fascism”.
“A firm alternative course should be made as nobody’s fighting against ongoing fascism. Sharad Ji is the senior-most leader and I came to discuss our political parties. I agree with whatever Sharad Ji said. There is no UPA,” the West Bengal chief minister said.
Earlier in the day, Banerjee had said that if all the regional parties come together, then defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be very easy.
Pawar too tweeted a photograph of the meeting with the TMC leader at his residence here. “Pleased to meet Hon’ble CM of West Bengal Smt @MamataOfficial at my Mumbai residence. We Discussed various issues. We agreed upon the need to strengthen the collective efforts and commitment towards safeguarding democratic values and ensuring the betterment of our people,” Pawar tweeted.
Making a fresh pitch for the unity of opposition parties to take on the BJP, the NCP chief said: “All those opposed to the BJP are welcome to join us. There is no question of excluding anyone.”
“We discussed the prevailing situation and the need for all like-minded parties to come together and provide a strong alternative to the BJP,” he added.
“Leadership is not an issue at this point. We need to unitedly work against the BJP,” the NCP leader said.
The TMC chief had met Shiv Sena leaders Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday.
After landing in Mumbai, Banerjee visited the Siddhivinayak Temple. She said she had prayed for the health of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who is recuperating after a spine surgery.