New Delhi: On the eve of the Lok Sabha election results, senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Thursday suggested that all regional secular parties should come together and elect West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as their leader to keep the BJP out of power.
His party, however, disapproved of his views. Admitting that it may be difficult for the Congress to form government, he said, “It may be difficult for us to form government, but all secular forces should come together to keep Narendra Modi away from power.” “The Congress will never hesitate to form a secular government,” Mr Alvi said.
“I suggest that regional parties should elect Mamata Banerjee, who is secular, competent and honest beyond doubt, as their leader,” he said. However, dismissing his remarks as personal opinion, Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said, “Whatever Alvi has said is his personal opinion and we have not discussed anything like that within the part.”
Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also spoke in a similar vein, insisting that the Congress “rejects any such assumption before the declaration of the poll results”. Mr Alvi’s suggestion had come under attack at a meeting of the Congress spokespersons held on Thursday with some even demanding that a showcause notice be issued to him, asking why disciplinary action should not be taken.
