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Mamata should be the face of united Oppn in 2019 Lok Sabha elections: Hardik Patel
Comparing Mamata Banerjee to Indira Gandhi, the Patidar leader also said he had promised the chief minister that he would visit Bengal and campaign for her in 2019.
All opposition parties should come together before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee should be the face of the united front, Patidar leader Hardik Patel said in Kolkata on Friday after meeting the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo at the state secretariat.
“Congress and Trinamool Congress are the two biggest opposition forces in the country right now. I feel Mamata Banerjee should be the face of this united opposition,” said Patel.
The meeting was significant in view of the role Patel played as an ally of the Congress in the last assembly elections in Gujarat.
Comparing Banerjee to Indira Gandhi, the Patidar leader said he promised the chief minister that he would visit Bengal and campaign for her in 2019.
“Mamata Banerjee has written to the Centre seeking Scheduled Tribe status for the Kurmi community in Bengal. I support her because Patels in Gujarat have the same status as the Kurmis in Bengal,” said Patel.
He also said that Banerjee invited him to join Trinamool Congress and lead the party in Gujarat. “I said I will give her proposal a serious thought if I decide to join active politics,” said Patel. “I have also requested her to visit Gujarat and enlighten the women there,” he added.
While leaving Nabanna late in the evening, Banerjee said she was impressed with Patel.
“He is an extremely bright young chap and politically conscious. I told him that he should join politics. If he does, I will give him all cooperation and support,” said Banerjee.