Future of INDIA bloc depends on TMC's performance in Bengal: Abhishek

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee asserted that the future of the INDIA bloc depends, to a large extent, on the performance of his party in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on April 24 asserted that the future of the INDIA bloc depends, to a large extent, on the performance of his party in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing an election rally at Raghunathganj in Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency, where polling will be held on May 7, the TMC national general secretary asserted that BJP will be "astonished" to see the results on June 4, and a "democratic and secular government" will be established in Delhi.

Also read | BJP may attempt to kill me and my nephew, alleges Mamata

"The future of the INDIA bloc depends to a large extent on how the TMC performs in West Bengal... BJP will be astonished to see the results [of Lok Sabha polls] on June 4. A democratic and secular government will be established in Delhi," he said.

Coming down heavily on the Congress and CPI (M), its INDIA bloc allies at the national level, the Diamond Harbour MP claimed that when Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi were seeking the support of the Trinamool Congress for the formation of the opposition alliance, the parties' West Bengal leaders were "effusively abusing" Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"I distinctly remember that when Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, in Mumbai, were seeking the support of the Trinamool Congress for strengthening the INDIA bloc, West Bengal Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and CPI (M)'s Mohammad Salim were speaking against Mamata Banerjee and the TMC. It is clear that both Congress and CPI (M) are working together to strengthen the hands of the BJP in the state," he alleged.

"Mamata Banerjee wanted a seat-sharing agreement to take on the BJP in states where regional parties are strong enough to do that. But every moment, Adhir Chowdhury abuses the TMC. People have identified who the real traitor is," he said.