Bengal Politics
First Covid, then politics: Mamata Banerjee on roadmap for 2024 General Elections
Kolkata/IBNS: Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee, who has emerged as a face of Opposition to take on the mighty Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Monday said she would prioritise the tackling of Covid-19 crisis at the present moment and not politics.
Interacting with the media, Mamata said, "Now it is time for Covid-19 and not politics. After this Covid-19 situation is over, we would meet other leaders of the country and make a roadmap for the 2024 polls."
Mamata, who has already announced free vaccines to all people of the state, on Sunday demanded free of cost inoculation for 1.3 billion people of the country by the Centre.
In a highly intense fight with the BJP, Mamata's regional satrap TMC has won 213 of 292 seats (two more seats due to be polled), decimating the saffron unit which has won just 77.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who form the top brass of the BJP which rules the Centre, invested hugely in the campaign in West Bengal, the defeat is seen as a huge setback and embarrassment for the saffron party ahead of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh polls due to be held next year.
TMC's political aide Prashant Kishor, who is one of the architects of the party's historic win, feels the 2024 General Elections would be completely a different ball game all together and an alliance of disparate political parties may not be able to stop the Modi juggernaut.
The TMC, which has been voted to power for the third consecutive term with a landslide victory on Sunday, will have a low-key swearing-in ceremony, Mamata announced.
"Due to Covid situation, we will have a low-key swearing-in ceremony. After the Covid crisis is over, we would hold celebrations in a grand manner and then I would invite all opposition leaders," she said.
Mamata, who has herself lost to former aide and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram, has been nominated as the leader of the assembly by her party.
She will take oath as the Chief Minister for the third term on Wednesday at Raj Bhavan, media reports said.
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