In New Delhi, Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal's CM, stirred discussions on the 2024 prime ministerial post within the INDIA alliance. During the alliance's meeting in the national capital, Banerjee proposed Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge as a potential candidate for the prestigious position. Emphasizing that the decision should await the alliance's victory in the upcoming elections, she suggested Kharge's suitability for the role.
Various constituents of the anti-BJP alliance have reportedly expressed interest in the powerful political position. Earlier, TMC and JDU leaders hinted at Banerjee and Nitish Kumar as potential candidates. The context of Banerjee's remark remains unclear at this time.
Addressing journalists on Monday, Banerjee stressed that the decision on the prime minister should be made post-election, highlighting the collaborative and diverse nature of the alliance. Mallikarjun Kharge echoed this sentiment after the meeting, asserting that the prime ministerial candidate would be projected after securing victory.
Kharge stated that 28 parties participated in the fourth INDIA alliance meeting, emphasizing unanimous agreement on how the alliance should operate in the future. Regarding seat-sharing, he mentioned that local leaders would initiate talks, with senior leaders intervening if disagreements persist.
Addressing seat-sharing challenges in UP and Telangana, Kharge expressed optimism in resolving issues and extended efforts to address concerns in Punjab and Delhi. He noted the absence of opposition to Kharge's PM candidacy suggestion.
JMM MP Mahua Maji highlighted that the primary discussion revolved around seat-sharing, with some leaders desiring resolutions before January 1. Talks about the prime ministerial face occurred, but no final decisions were made, with a consensus that the PM candidate would be decided post-election victories.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal characterized the meeting as successful and fruitful, emphasizing the need to initiate seat-sharing discussions immediately. Despite diverse opinions within the 25-26 party alliance, the main focus was on finalizing seat-sharing agreements at the meeting.