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This is an archive article published on March 17, 2023

Akhilesh Yadav in Bengal, SP, TMC send message to Cong: Don’t act as Oppn big boss

While SP chief says will remain equidistant from both BJP, Cong, TMC says it will talk to regional leaders, see how it goes

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav at Kalighat, Kolkata. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

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The Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress indicated on Friday that they would not be joining any formation led by the Congress.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who arrived in Kolkata for a two-day meeting of the party’s National Executive, met TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the day. Before the meeting, he praised Mamata for holding off the BJP in Bengal and said the SP and TMC’s fight was similar.

Also in Political Pulse | ‘Don’t want to join Congress programmes’: SP throws light on its position on Oppn unity

The TMC announced that Mamata will be headed to Bhubaneswar next week to meet her Odisha counterpart and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, followed by a trip to Delhi where she will meet Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Addressing party workers ahead of the National Executive, Akhilesh said: “If we can defeat the BJP in Bengal, we will defeat them in Uttar Pradesh too. Our focus is to remove the BJP from Uttar Pradesh and the rest of the country.”

Pointing out that the TMC had won in Bengal defeating the BJP, he said: “Didi (Mamata) is fighting in Bengal, we are fighting in UP… Our party is with Didi. How can we be with the Congress?… We are equidistant from both the BJP and Congress.”

Must Read | Fighting shy of sharing UP Oppn space, Akhilesh set to replicate 2022 alliance playbook in 2024

Mamata also held a meeting with her party leaders on Friday, after which TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said the party was not looking at either the BJP or the Congress but would try and get together regional parties, even as he reiterated that the TMC was ready to fight alone in the state and at the national level. “We will increase our power and will implement our own politics and programme,” Bandyopadhyay said.

Referring to developments in Delhi, where the BJP has stepped up offensive against Rahul Gandhi in Parliament and outside, Bandyopadhyay said it was part of the BJP’s larger design.

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“Rahul Gandhi made some comments abroad and the BJP will not let Parliament function till he apologises. This means they don’t want Parliament to function using the Congress. The BJP wants Rahul Gandhi to be the face of the Opposition so that it helps the BJP,” he said at a press conference, reiterating that it was too early to decide on a prime ministerial face for the 2024 election now.

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The MP added that while the TMC had joined the Opposition meeting called by Congress leader Mallikarjun Khagre, the Congress should not feel “they are the big boss of the Opposition front”.

Another TMC leader, Chandrima Bhattacharya, said, “The Congress is messing up everywhere. Here, it is allying with the BJP and CPI(M) to topple our government. Why do we support the Congress?”

On whether this meant that the TMC would remain equidistant from the Congress and the BJP, Bandyopadhyay said: “Our party will fight against the BJP’s anti-federal and anti-democratic policies. We will create a precedent when it comes to fighting against the BJP. We are not saying that we will maintain equal distance from the Congress and BJP. We are neither saying that we will make a third front. We are only saying that our leader Mamata Banerjee will talk with other regional parties. We can only say that in the near future, there may be big things.”

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TMC sources said that at the meeting, Mamata urged party leaders to concentrate their attack on the BJP at the grassroot level. She said the BJP was targeting TMC leaders as they were the biggest challenge for the BJP.

Akhilesh attacked the BJP for “misusing” Central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI, against Opposition leaders. Speaking to reporters on arrival in Kolkata, he said the number of such cases was among the highest in Uttar Pradesh.

“The ED, CBI, Income Tax all are political. Still, fewer people are in jail in West Bengal. In Uttar Pradesh, so many SP supporters, MLAs are in jail under false and fabricated cases,” he said.

He went on to attack Congress governments of using the same tactics. “Earlier, when the Congress was in power in Delhi, it misused these institutions. Today it’s the BJP. But they must remember that whoever used the ED CBI, Income Tax (thus), had to eventually leave.”

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The SP chief added that it was “a sad trend” that if a leader joins the BJP, the ED, CBI cases disappear. “You can see this in Bengal, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and UP.”

Even if the SP had one vote, it would fight to save the Constitution, Akhilesh said.

The SP leader said the party had deep links with Kolkata. “My father (Mulayam Singh Yadav) held many party programmes here. In culture, music, politics, Bengal has always shown people the way. Kolkata used to be the capital (of the country)… When we see the Central government now, privatising everything… we wonder what type of slavery they are pushing the country into. It is our responsibility to save the Constitution.”

Sweety Kumari

Sweety Kumari is a seasoned journalist reporting from West Bengal for The Indian Express. With over a decade of experience in the media industry and eight years specifically with The Indian Express, she demonstrates considerable Expertise and Authority across a diverse range of critical beats. Experience & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express, reporting from West Bengal. Extensive Tenure: Over 10 years of experience in the media industry, with a long association (8 years) with The Indian Express, contributing to a high level of Trustworthiness. Diverse Coverage: Covers crucial beats including Crime, Defence, Health, and Politics, alongside writing on trending topics. Investigative Focus: Possesses a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories, demonstrating depth and skill in impactful journalism. Beat Versatility: Has honed her craft across diverse beats, including aviation and reporting on various incidents, ensuring well-rounded and comprehensive reportage. Career Start: Began her journalistic journey as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a news portal in Kolkata, providing a foundational understanding of media landscape and audience engagement. Education Advanced Education: Holds a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, equipping her with advanced media theory and skills. Undergraduate Education: Holds an Honours degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College. Multilingual Skill: Her fluency in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili enhances her reach and capability to connect with diverse sources and communities in the region, adding a layer of accessibility and authenticity to her reporting. Regional Roots: Originally from Bihar, she was brought up and educated in Kolkata (Kendriya Vidyalaya Salt Lake), giving her a deep, personal understanding of the cultural and political nuances of her reporting region. Sweety Kumari's combination of significant experience, specialization in key beats like Crime and Politics, and strong academic background makes her a trusted and authoritative contributor to The Indian Express. ... Read More

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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