Claiming she has “heard of general elections in March next year”, Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee upped the ante against the UPA government on Monday saying her party “could move a no-confidence motion on the floor of the Lok Sabha if need be”.
In an apparent bid to formalise a non-Congress, non-BJP alternative, Ms Banerjee made a strong pitch to reach out to Samajwadi chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, urging them to back her in dislodging the UPA government.
Saying she didn’t want the “anti-people UPA” to stay in office, the West Bengal CM added: “The Parliament session is coming, and if need be we are ready to bring a no-confidence motion. We may also bring a resolution opposing FDI in multi-brand retail.”
She indicated she would seek wider support before making any move against the government. “I will request other political parties not to support this government,” she said.
Ms Banerjee plans to mobilise public support against the UPA through rallies in Patna (November 17), Lucknow (November 19), Haryana (November 2), besides a 48-hour demonstration in New Delhi (November 20-21) on the eve of Parliament’s Winter Session.
Speaking at a Jantar Mantar rally here Monday against the recent diesel hike, cap on subsidised LPG cylinders and FDI in multi-brand retail, Ms Banerjee accused the government of working against the common man’s interests at the behest of multinationals. She was joined on the dais by JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and most of her party MPs.