Kolkata: A day after National Conference leader Omar Abdullah met West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said that only a strong Union can defeat the BJP in 2019 elections. He also hinted at a possible formation of the Grand Alliance with the Congress. Mamata’s United Front was another point of discussion during the meeting.
The United Front aims to bring together all the regional parties ahead of the 2019 general elections. The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, said that the alliance was still an “ongoing conversation”. He also said that the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ undertaken by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi will take a greater shape.
“It’s an ongoing conversation. You have seen a number of efforts made particularly by Sonia Gandhi to bring opposition parties together. As we get closer to the general election in 2019 I’m sure it’ll take on a greater shape,” he was quoted as saying by ANI. He also indicated that in order to succeed against the BJP, Congress will need all allies while still leading the race to 2019.
“The question you asked about Mamata didi’s proposal, is what we’re discussing – how best can regional parties come together to take on BJP in general elections. No effort towards opposition unity will succeed unless Congress is able to fight BJP in the way we hope,” he said further.
While the stand of Mamata’s party Trinamool Congress (TMC) on a ‘mahagathbandhan’ remain ambiguous, Abdullah hinted that the process of formation of an ‘anti-BJP’ alliance will involve Congress. He also said that weakened states due to internal conflicts have also weakened the Union.
“Today India isn’t as strong as it could be as we’re facing problems in numerous states-Maoist insurgency in parts of country, problems in north-east or J&K. States that have been weakened have held Union back from progressing the way we ought to have done,” he was quoted as saying. “ A strong Union is required for a strong country but a strong Union can’t come at the cost of the states. Where does it say that for a strong Union you have to have weak states? You only have a strong Union if you have strong states,” he said further.
Commenting further on weakened states, he talked about the agreement with the Union and people of Jammu and Kashmir post-independence in 1947. “History is full of questions but if we had respected the agreement entered into with Union & people of J&K after accession in 1947, we wouldn’t be dealing with alienated & bloodied J&K, where our neighbor has found it so easy to make lives difficult for us,” he said.
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