Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar stirred opposition politics by declaring West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee indispensable to the INDIA alliance’s survival. He warned that her absence would erase the bloc’s core identity.
Mamata Banerjee as Central Leader
Aiyar emphasized Mamata Banerjee’s pivotal role, stating, “Without Mamata di, the ‘I’, ‘N’, ‘D’, ‘I’, ‘A’ of the INDIA alliance all will be gone. Because Mamata Banerjee is the leader of this alliance.”
He highlighted potential contributions from other regional figures, including DMK Chief MK Stalin, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, to steer the bloc forward.
Call for Rahul Gandhi to Step Back
Aiyar urged Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to yield leadership to heads of smaller parties rather than seeking the top position. He believes this shift would strengthen the alliance’s direction.
Tensions Within Congress
Aiyar expressed uncertainty about his standing in the Congress, referencing comments from General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal that hinted at disciplinary action. “I consider myself to be in Congress, but it seems they may have decided to expel me. However, I have not received any formal letter,” he said.
Despite rumors of expulsion, Aiyar noted no official confirmation from the party. “If you want the Congress’ view, ask a Congressman,” he added, while asserting that many party members back Mamata Banerjee.
Early Ties to TMC and Cultural Reflections
Recalling his brief stint with the Trinamool Congress in 1997, Aiyar served as its first National Secretary before departing due to the party’s strong Bengali roots.
On International Mother Language Day, he underscored the value of linguistic and cultural identity, pointing to the Bengali language movement in Dhaka led by Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
