'I Am Indebted': Mamata On Oppn Leaders Backing Her To Lead INDIA Bloc

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee recently voiced her dissatisfaction with the functioning of the INDIA bloc and hinted at her willingness to take charge of the alliance if given the opportunity.

File photo of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Source : PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed gratitude to several senior leaders of the INDIA bloc for supporting her as the potential leader of the non-BJP coalition.

Speaking during her three-day visit to Digha in Purba Medinipur district, Banerjee said she would pray for the well-being of these leaders and the alliance. "I am indebted to everyone for the respect they have shown to me. I pray for their good health. I want them as well as their party to stay well. I also want INDIA to stay well," Banerjee said, news agency PTI reported.

Prominent Leaders Extend Support

Further, she refused to speak more on the issue. Banerjee recently voiced her dissatisfaction with the functioning of the INDIA bloc and hinted at her willingness to take charge of the alliance if given the opportunity. Several leaders backed her and stated that she should be allowed to lead the coalition.

"I had formed the INDIA bloc, now it is up to those leading the front to manage it. If they can't run the show, what can I do? I would just say that everyone needs to be taken along," she said during an interview with the Bengali news channel News 18 Bangla.

According to news agency ANI, Pawar stated, “Yes certainly (she is capable of leading the alliance), she is a prominent leader of this nation... she has that capability. The elected leaders she sent in the parliament are responsible, dutiful and well-aware people... therefore she has the right to say so.”  

Prominent leaders like NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and RJD president Lalu Prasad have expressed their support for Mamata Banerjee.  Pawar referred to her as a "capable leader," while Prasad advocated for Banerjee to be entrusted with leading the INDIA bloc. 

Additionally, YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Vijayasai Reddy stated that the TMC chief could manage the INDIA bloc parties more effectively.