BJP in power at Centre for lack of alternative, need to form one: Mamata

Banerjee, who was re-elected as the party's chairperson last month, formed a new state committee, packing it with mostly with her loyalists

The BJP is in power at the Centre as there is no alternative, and the day an alternative comes, the BJP will be ousted, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday.

“There is no alternative at Delhi, so you (the BJP) exist. The day the alternative gets ready, you will cease to exist. The alternative will have to be prepared in consultation, mere speaking about it will not make it happen,” Mamata said addressing a meeting of her party representatives in Kolkata.

Mamata said that she is a "very practical" person. She said that in the 2021 elections a hype was generated that 200 seats (of the 294 seats) in the state assembly will be won (obliquely referring to the BJP). "It’s easier to offer slogans, but difficult to work hard," she said, adding that the party will have to work in Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam.

The Trinamool chief added that winning or losing is not significant but that the people of Goa have accepted Trinamool (as a party in the state) is important. Mamata referred to her UP visit and the "respect" she received, saying that a greater fight needs a greater role.

A day after the BJP MLAs protested in the state assembly on the first day of the session and obstructed Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for an hour from addressing the House, Mamata told party MLAs that they will have to come to the House regularly, and no leave will be permitted. “Assembly will have to be attended like attending school, college. Come in the morning, and leave at the time it concludes. The ministers will not take up any programmes during the session, and will stay in the assembly and discharge their duties,” she said.

The Trinamool will take up a ‘public connect’ programme, starting May 5, where party representatives at different levels will visit villages, blocks, and connect with the people at the grassroots. The programme will be taken up in three phases. At the local level, there would be poster exhibitions that will highlight government’s initiatives for students and farmers. Meanwhile, suspended senior BJP leader and a former party spokesperson Jay Prakash Majumdar joined Trinamool at the meeting.

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