"Party that could not extend its leadership beyond Bengal...": Congress' Udit Raj attacks CM Mamata

New Delhi [India], December 8 : Congress leader Udit Raj on Sunday, criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee amid conversations regarding the 'leadership' role in the INDIA bloc, and questioned that a party that couldn't extend its leadership beyond Bengal, how can it lead the whole country.
This comes after several Trinamool Congress leaders suggested that the INDIA bloc is lacking a 'strong leadership' and CM Mamata Banerjee should take over the role.
"When TMC won the elections, the party tried to build their network across the country but failed to do so. The party that could not extend their leadership beyond West Bengal, how will they lead the whole country?" he said.
Being asked on the 'Delhi Chalo March' by the farmers, Udit Raj expressed his support for the protestors, calling their demands "legitimate" and an "inspiration to keep democracy alive."
He criticized the government's decision to stop farmers at the Shambhu border, labelling it "undemocratic."
"It is an inspiration for all of us to keep democracy alive. Their demands are legitimate...Surprisingly, a person of the stature of the PM can lie so much. The farmers have been stopped at the Shambhu border. Stopping them from entering Delhi is undemocratic," he said.
Earlier, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee suggested that one strong leader is needed to lead the INDIA bloc following the defeat of Congress in the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly polls. He further said that the opposition alliance should be stronger to take on the BJP.
Following this, TMC MP Kirti Azad responded to suggestions by TMC leaders that Mamata Banerjee should lead the INDIA bloc following Congress' defeat in the Maharashtra assembly elections.
"Mamata Banerjee has a 100 per cent record. Whenever Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced a humiliating defeat, it was only in West Bengal... Whenever he comes to insult Bengal and its honour, her vote share increases," he said.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SCP) chief Sharad Pawar also acknowledged the leadership potential of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, emphasising her prominence as a national leader and the competence of her party's representatives in Parliament.
Pawar expressed his support, stating, "Yes, certainly (she is capable of leading the alliance). She is a prominent leader of this nation... she has that capability. The elected leaders she sent to Parliament are responsible, dutiful, and well-aware people. Therefore, she has the right to say so."Meanwhile, BJP leader Pravin Darekar criticised Congress leadership, claiming Sharad Pawar's support for Mamata Banerjee indicated doubts about Rahul Gandhi's ability to lead the alliance.
"I think this means that Pawar Sahab wants to say that Rahul Gandhi's leadership is not capable and Congress can't lead now. So, Pawar Sahab's direction is towards one side and words on the other side. Only time will tell what is in his mind," Darekar told ANI.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had earlier expressed support for Mamata Banerjee's role in the alliance. "We know Mamata ji's opinion. We also want her to be a major partner of the INDIA bloc. Whether it is Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, or Shiv Sena, we are all together. We will soon go to talk to Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata," Raut said during a press conference.