'Congress failed': TMC leader says INDIA bloc needs 'decisive' leader to challenge PM Modi, BJP

NEW DELHI: After electoral setbacks in Haryana and Maharashtra, the Congress has come under criticism from its INDIA bloc partners, with TMC urging it to recognise the need for a decisive leader to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
"The Congress has failed to achieve the desired results either in Haryana or Maharashtra. We had tremendous hope that the Congress would perform better," TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee told news agency ANI.

Drawing confidence from the TMC's clean sweep in the West Bengal assembly by polls, Banerjee said there is a significant "failure" on the part of the Congress to deliver results in state elections.
Referring to the MVA's poor performance, Banerjee said that the whole alliance failed to meet expectations in the absence of a leader.
"Today, if we genuinely want to fight against the BJP and Narendra Modi, the INDIA alliance must be stronger. To achieve that, one decisive leader is necessary. The key question now is: who will that leader be?" Banerjee said, hinting at Mamata Banerjee as a potential contender to challenge the BJP and PM Modi.
"Congress has tried various approaches. All experiments have been conducted, but they have failed. Other leaders have also made attempts and failed. Now, only three significant leaders remain—Stalin, Hemant Soren, and Mamata Didi. Among them, Mamata Ji has vast experience in parliamentary politics. She is a seven-time MP, a former Cabinet Minister, and a three-time chief minister," he added.
Citing Mamata Banerjee's impressive track record as a politician in diverse roles, Kalyan Banerjee said her "fighting character," urging the Congress to set aside its ego and accept Mamata Banerjee as the leader of the INDIA bloc.
Earlier on Sunday, Banerjee criticised the Congress for its electoral rout in Maharashtra. He stressed the need for "unified and decisive" leadership to effectively challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
"The Congress and other opposition parties must acknowledge their failures in the recent elections and prioritize unity over individual ambitions. They should set aside their egos and rally behind Mamata Banerjee as the leader of the INDIA bloc," he had said on Sunday.
The Congress was widely expected to secure a decisive victory in the Haryana assembly polls, but the BJP defied expectations to retain power for a record third term. Meanwhile in Maharashtra, the MVA was anticipated to gain ground after a good run in the Lok Sabha polls before the ruling Mahayuti turned the tables by securing a convincing victory.