Mamata Banerjee does not want to see Rahul Gandhi as PM : Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi

"Recently, TMC organised an opposition rally. But they have a problem with Rahul Gandhi. They don't want him as next prime minister of the country. But I want to say it loud and clear that Rahul Gandhi will be the next prime minister of the country. The next government at the Centre will be formed under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi," Gogoi, the party's in-charge for West Bengal, said.

NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 10: Congress President Rahul Gandhi, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attend a meeting of opposition parties at Parliament House Annexe, on December 10, 2018 in New Delhi, India. Leaders of major Opposition parties meet at Parliament House Annex to discuss forging a Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Kolkata: Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said Mamata Banerjee's party does not want to see Rahul Gandhi as the next prime minister of the country. The comments could possibly strain ties between the Congress and TMC as Gogoi believed that Mamata’s party is trying to undermine the leadership of his party president. His comments came just days after the mega opposition rally convened by TMC in Kolkata, which was attended by senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, apart from top leaders of various other parties. The two leaders attended the rally on behalf of Rahul. There were reports of the Bengal Congress also expressing reservations about the participation of senior party leaders in Mamata’s show. The absence of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi had also started drawing attention. “Rahul sent a message yesterday and Soniaji’s message was read out (at the rally) by the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha…. This proves her (Mamata’s) worth,” said a Trinamool source to the Telegraph. Congress president Rahul Gandhi will be the prime minister of the country after 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Gogoi asserted at a rally in Rampurhat in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Tuesday. "Recently, TMC organised an opposition rally. But they have a problem with Rahul Gandhi. They don't want him as next prime minister of the country. But I want to say it loud and clear that Rahul Gandhi will be the next prime minister of the country. The next government at the Centre will be formed under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi," Gogoi, the party's in-charge for West Bengal, said. Gogoi in the past raised TMC’s silence in congratulating Rahul Gandhi after Congress' win in the three Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh. Further he said TMC leaders are having "sleepless nights" as they are apprehensive of Mamata Banerjee of not becoming the prime minister. Reacting to Gogoi's comments, TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said it mattered little as senior Congress leaders attended the opposition rally. Meanwhile, West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra ruled out any alliance with the TMC for the Lok Sabha polls. "We are willing to fight in all the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. If secular and democratic forces want to fight against TMC and BJP, we will also talk with them," Mitra said. (With additional information from PTI)