'Not Local Level Election': Congress Responds To Mamata On '40 Seats' Remarks, Says 'Better To Come Together'

Jairam Ramesh said that it is important that all of the parties in the I.N.D.I.A. bloc come together and realise that this is not a local-level election.

The Congress on Saturday responded to West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who challenged the Congress to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Hindi heartland states and doubted their ability to secure "even 40 seats" in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Mamata Banerjee is still part of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, and her priority is also to take on the BJP. He further stated that it is important that all of the parties in the alliance come together and realise that this is not a local-level election.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Jairam Ramesh said, “We are assuming she (West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee) is still a part of the INDIA group, a group of 27 parties that have formed the alliance. Her priority, she claims, is to fight the BJP. Our priority is also to fight the BJP". "I think it’s better if we all come together. I think we should realise that this is not a local-level election,” he added.

While addressing a dharna in Kolkata to demand the clearance of the state's dues by the Centre, the West Bengal chief said, "I proposed that Congress contest 300 seats (across the country where the BJP is the main opposition), but they refused to heed. Now, they have arrived in the state to stir up Muslim voters. I doubt whether they will secure even 40 seats if they contest 300," as quoted by PTI.

Banerjee reiterated that her party was willing to form an alliance with the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, but emphasised that it was the grand old party that declined her offer. "We were open to an alliance, offering them two seats, which they rejected. Now let them contest in all 42 seats alone. Since then, there has been no dialogue between us. We will fight alone and defeat the BJP in Bengal," she said.

Alliance Is Breaking Apart, Rahul Gandhi Is Out To Unite Country: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party took a swipe at the Congress saying that the I.N.D.I.A bloc is breaking apart and Rahul Gandhi is out to unite the country through 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "We have been saying it that this (INDIA) alliance is being built on sand, it will fall. However, we didn't know that it will fall apart so soon. The alliance is breaking apart, and he (Rahul Gandhi) is out to unite the country (referring to Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra). Nitish Kumar has left, Mamata Banerjee is also leaving".

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said that 40 seats are too much, the grand old party will not win more than 10 seats. "40 seats are too much, she (Mamata Banerjee) said this because she is a bit emotional towards the Congress. I think they will not win more than 10 seats," Dubey said.