'Not Time For Whataboutery, Ego': Opposition V-P Candidate Margaret Alva To Mamata Banerjee

The remark comes a day after TMC announced it would abstain from the upcoming vice presidential election.

Opposition's vice presidential candidate Margaret Alva

Expressing disappointment over the Trinamool Congress's decision to abstain from voting in the vice-presidential election, Opposition candidate Margaret Alva on Friday said this was not the time for "whataboutery, ego or anger". The remark comes a day after TMC announced it would abstain from the upcoming vice presidential election as the party was not kept in the loop on the way the Opposition candidate was decided.

The NDA has nominated former West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as its candidate for the vice-presidential election scheduled to be held on August 6. The TMC has 35 MPs in both the Houses.

"The TMC's decision to abstain from voting in the VP election is disappointing. This isn't the time for 'whataboutery’, ego or anger. This is the time for courage, leadership and unity. I believe Mamata Banerjee, who is the epitome of courage, will stand with the opposition," Margaret Alva tweeted.

On Thursday, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee announced the party's decision to abstain from the election following a meeting of TMC MPs at Mamata Banerjee's residence. 

"There is no question of supporting the NDA candidate, especially Jagdeep Dhankhar. In today's meeting, TMC lawmakers unanimously decided not to take part in the vice presidential election," Banerjee said.

"We disagree with the process of announcing the Opposition candidate without keeping TMC in the loop. We were neither consulted nor was anything discussed with us. So we can't support the Opposition nominee," he further said.

Banerjee, the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, also said the TMC's decision won't affect Opposition unity as it was not dependent on presidential and vice presidential elections.

"If you are really interested in Opposition unity, you have to rise above ego and self-interest. You can have Opposition unity through joint programmes on issues concerning the masses. But we need to change our approach," PTI quoted Banerjee as saying.

Banerjee said the TMC leadership had proposed a few names for the joint Opposition vice presidential candidate and a discussion was underway but "all of a sudden a candidate was announced".

"Although Mamata Banerjee shares a cordial relationship with Alva, but personal equations cannot be the criteria for selecting vice presidential candidate," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)