New Delhi (TIP): It will be Modi vs the rest of India in 2024 and the opposition will create history, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Wednesday, July 28,  setting the tone for opposition unity in the Lok Sabha elections.

“Poore desh me khela hoga. When general elections happen, it will be Modi vs country. This is our hope for 2024,” Banerjee said in a free-wheeling interaction with reporters in Delhi on the third day of her visit.

The West Bengal CM, however, remained non-committal about her role at the national level and said she has a “sweet home” in Bengal and would like to stay there.

“I don’t want to be a leader but a cadre. Let me be that. But I want to bell the cat; I want to help all. I am not a VIP but an LIP (Less Important Person),” Banerjee said when asked about her national role.

She said the situation on the ground is different now. “Every regional party is very strong today. If all of them are together, they will be stronger than BJP,” she said.

The West Bengal CM, on a strong footing after her party’s resounding victory in the assembly elections in May, reiterated that talks with various opposition leaders are going on but no final decision has been taken as yet on the opposition’s strategy for 2024.

“The Parliament session is on, so political parties and their leaders are busy. Once the session is over, we will sit together and decide. In a democracy, talks have to go on,” she said.

Asked who will become the leader of the opposition alliance, Banerjee said she is not a “political astrologer”.

“It depends on the situation. All of us can work together. Anybody can become a leader,” she said. “I don’t want to impose my opinion. After the Parliament session, opposition parties must meet.”

Following her interaction with the media, Banerjee met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and later Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

After meeting Gandhi, Banerjee said the former had invited her for tea and they discussed a host of issues including the need for the opposition to come together. “Rahulji was also present. We discussed the political situation in the country, Pegasus as well as Covid,” she said.

On the role the Congress will play in the coalition, Banerjee said Sonia also champions opposition unity. “Congress trusts the regional parties and regional parties trust Congress,” she said.

Banerjee said that she is hopeful that a positive result will come out in the future from all these discussions.  She later met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.       Source: The Print