Kolkata: Asserting that the ‘fascist’ Narendra Modi government is on its way out, TMC MP Derek O’Brien said Thursday a front of regional political parties will come to power at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections and his party will play the ‘most important’ role in government formation.
O’Brien, however, did not confirm or deny if Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be a contender for the Prime Minister’s post if the anti-BJP front comes to power.
“After four phases of election, I can confidently say that this fascist Narendra Modi government is on its way out. There will be a new government at the Centre which will be driven by regional parties,” O’Brien told this agency.
“All the leaders and MPs (of constituent parties) would sit together and decide who would be their leader. We would take just an hour to elect the leader of the front,” he added.
Speaking about his party’s role in government formation, O’Brien said that it would play a crucial role. “The TMC would play the most important role in the formation of the next government,” O’Brien asserted.
“In a garden there are different features, there is also a squirrel in a garden. A squirrel doesn’t grab the limelight but plays a very important role,” added the TMC MP.
The TMC leader evaded a direct response when asked if Banerjee would be in the running for the top office. “Mamata Banerjee’s credentials speak for themselves,” he said, adding that she has been a Member of Parliament and Union Minister multiple times and Chief Minister twice.
O’Brien who is so optimistic about the formation of a new power group said there would be a ‘United India Common Minimum Agenda’, decided by all alliance partners, to guide the government policies.
Asked whether the Congress would be part of the anti-BJP front, he answered in the affirmative. “Of course, the Congress would be part of it,” asserted O’Brien.
Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘mahamilawat’ (adulteration) jibe at the Opposition’s ‘mahagathbandhan’ (grand alliance), the TMC MP said, “Meglomaniacs, who do not respect the coalition dharma, will keep making such comments. We are in the era of coalition politics and everybody should respect the dharma of it.”