NEW DELHI: TMC leader Derek O’Brien said on Wednesday 2018-19 is the year of “think federal”, suggesting regional parties will play a crucial role at the Centre and projected Mamata Banerjee as one of the “most senior leaders in this matrix”.
He also said that Banerjee emerging as one of the front runners for the prime minister’s post “is nothing new”.
His comments came a day after reports about the Congress being ready to accept any non-RSS candidate from among the Opposition as the next prime minister.
“This 2018-2019. This is the year of “think federal”. But these things would be decided later. The reality is that everyone is focused on electing a people-centric government and removing the BJP. So, one of the most senior leader in this matrix is Mamata Banerjee,” O’Brien told reporters here.
The TMC Rajya Sabha member claimed that Banerjee is “accepted” not only by the people of West Bengal but also the entire country for her 40 years of political struggle, including as Member of Parliament and the chief minister of the state.
Though Congress president Rahul Gandhi has not said anything about projecting Banerjee as the prime ministerial candidate, her name “emerging as one of the front runners is nothing new”, O’Brien said.
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