• Source:JND
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Cracks within the opposition INDIA bloc seem to have widened after facing humiliating defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly polls. While the Samajwadi Party has exited the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra, citing a statement from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader praising the demolition of Babri Masjid, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has now questioned the alliance's leadership and has shown interest in leading the alliance, if given a chance. 

In an interview, Mamata Banerjee said that there are people who didn't like her, but she formed the INDIA alliance, and though she has no intention of leaving Bengal, she can do both of the jobs from Kolkata. "I formed the INDIA alliance. Those who don’t like me will always find faults. They may not like me... But if I were given the responsibility. However, I don’t want it. I don’t want to leave Bengal. I was born here, and I will take my last breath here because I love Bengal so much. But I believe that I can manage this even from here," Banerjee stated. 

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The statement from Banerjee has got mixed reactions from the leaders of the opposition alliance. While several of the key alliance partners, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad), have supported Banerjee, the Congress leaders have called this a 'good joke'. Reacting to Banerjee's statement, Sharad Pawar stated that the West Bengal chief minister has all the necessary capabilities to lead the alliance.

“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,” Pawar said. 

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However, Congress leaders have pointed out that Mamata Banerjee is a leader of a regional party, and she could not succeed in projecting TMC as a national party. "That's a good joke," Manikam Tagore said when asked about Mamata's remarks. While the Congress remains the biggest opposition party with 99 seats in the Lok Sabha, it has faced isolation in the winter session of parliament over the issues of the alleged Adani scam and the farmers issue.