In a bold political statement, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), will not attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on Sunday. The decision came after a meeting with newly-elected TMC MPs in Kolkata.
“Even if we receive an invitation, we will not attend,” Banerjee declared, questioning the legitimacy of the BJP-led government. “This government is forming undemocratically and unconstitutionally. We cannot give our best wishes to this government, but to the country and its people.”
The firebrand leader didn’t stop there. She cast doubts on the NDA government’s tenure, stating, “I think this government will not continue for long.” Banerjee contrasted the NDA with the INDIA bloc, suggesting that while NDA partners have high expectations, INDIA bloc partners are “dedicated and determined” without a “give and take” mentality.
Banerjee also made serious allegations about the recent Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal. “We could have won 35 seats instead of 29,” she claimed, accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) of jointly defeating TMC in “five-six seats.”
Looking ahead, she assured that TMC MPs will be vocal in Parliament, particularly against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). “Our MPs are not going to Parliament to sit idle,” she warned. In a show of solidarity with protesting farmers in Punjab, Banerjee announced that a four-member TMC team-Derek O’Brien, Sagarika Ghose, Dola Sen, and Nadimul Haque-will visit the state. As the political landscape heats up post-elections, Banerjee’s statements signal a combative stance from the opposition, setting the stage for a tumultuous parliamentary session ahead.
