Kolkata: Ruling out prime ministerial ambition, West Bengal’s chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, signalled her preference to play kingmaker post the 2019 general elections in India.
“Many are speculating Mamata wants to become Prime Minister. No, I do not. I want to stay happily in a hut in Bengal. Let me tell you, Mamata Banerjee does not want anything for herself. I am happy in Bengal staying at my own hut,” Banerjee said.
However, she went on to speak about her other ambitions. “Though I want the federal structure to be further strengthened and [that] our friendship with our regional parties grow. It is important for the country,” she added.
Banerjee had been mulling with the idea of creating a federal front with regional parties like Janata Dal (United), Samajwadi Party, Jayalalitha’s AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), Nationalistic Congress Party (NCP) and Aam Admi Party — whose chief, Arvind kerjiwal, she considers a friend.
Banerjee’s also clearly calling the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) her sole enemy in the state; in her speech yesterday to party workers, she did not name the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), choosing instead to focus on the plight of Dalit’s in BJP-ruled Gujarat.
However, many of her party colleagues are not playing the game openly, wanting Trinamool Congress (TMC) to become the deciding factor in 2019 elections. “In 2019 elections, TMC has to become the deciding factor. Though she has ruled out any prime ministerial ambition for herself, in absence of any credible name she may have to take the plunge,” said senior TMC leader Mukul Roy.
Banerjee, who is targeting all 42 parliamentary seats in the state, initiated the idea of a federal front in 2014, which did not take off mostly due to prime minister Narendra Modi’s popularity. However, it has also given regional parties like TMC hope, as it has reduced the Congress party to a mere sign board in many states in the country. Her party won 38 of the 42 seats, but lost critical votes in North Bengal where BJP won two seats.
“A federal front is from everyone to participate and not few individuals to decide on the fate of millions,” Banerjee said.
CPM leaders, however, are worried about Banerjee trying to share political space with BJP, reducing their space in state politics. “She by attacking BJP is actually giving them the required oxygen trying to divide the voters based on religion and community, whereby she is trying to further consolidate the Muslim vote in her favour,” said CPM leader Samik Lahiri.
Banerjee also played the card of saffronisation, where she raised issues such as ban on beef, and other initiatives like creating vegetarian and non-vegetarian canteen for students in colleges.
“She has made it amply clear that she wants to become kingmaker. she knows for her it is impossible to be prime minister, where she will needs the support of the Congress party who now in alliance with the CPM is also her enemy in the state. Banerjee is not foolish to destroy her base in the state for the sake of become prime minister,” said Nironjon Roy, a political observer.
