No Opposition unity possible without Congress as its fulcrum: Jairam Ramesh

Jairam Ramesh dubbed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the "B-team" of the BJP

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on September 18 asserted that non-BJP parties that believe Opposition unity without the grand old party as the fulcrum is possible are living in a "fool's paradise".

Without naming any outfit, he said many regional parties have back-stabbed the grand old party in the past to serve their own self-interests, and that such parties should stop using the Congress as a punching bag.

"There cannot be any Opposition unity without the Congress as its fulcrum. That is fundamental.

"If any non-BJP outfit thinks any alliance sans the Congress can provide a stable government for five years, it is living in a fool's paradise. There can never be any Opposition unity minus the Congress," Mr. Ramesh said in an interview with PTI in Kolkata, where he had come to attend a party programme.

Although he dubbed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the "B-team" of the BJP, Mr. Ramesh stopped short of analysing the role of the Trinamool Congress, which too, like the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, is opposed to the Congress, by saying, "It [TMC] has Congress in its name."

"We have said this before...there is ample evidence to prove that AAP is the B-team of the BJP. If you look at its history or the background of its leaders, you will know it. Regarding the TMC, I am yet to make my assessment, but I think they, too, have Congress in their name," he said.

Without naming anyone, Mr. Ramesh said those who talk of Opposition unity without the Congress only want to weaken the Opposition front and the grand old party.