On July 12, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee visited Mumbai for the first time since the Lok Sabha poll results were announced over a month ago. During her visit, she met with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
At a joint press conference with Uddhav Thackeray, Banerjee criticized the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, calling it unstable. She expressed doubts about the government's ability to complete its term, saying, "This government may not continue also. This is not a stable government." She added, "Khela has begun, it will go on," hinting at ongoing political battles.
Support for Shiv Sena (UBT)
Mamata Banerjee also spoke out against the decision to take away the name and symbol from Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction. She called it “absolutely unethical” but praised the party for fighting like a tiger.
The Shiv Sena split in June 2022, and the party name and 'bow and arrow' symbol were given to the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Mamata Banerjee also made a significant announcement during her trip, stating that she would campaign for Uddhav Thackeray and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, expected to be held in October-November.
Both the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Banerjee’s TMC are part of the opposition’s INDIA bloc, which aims to challenge the NDA at the national level. The MVA, which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP, and the Congress, stunned the ruling Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha elections by winning 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra.
(Inputs for Agencies)
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