"Let Mamata Banerjee claim leadership if she wants" CM Omar Abdullah on INDIA bloc

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], December 9 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee can claim the leadership of INDIA bloc and said there would be a discusssion.
He said that the question of change in the leadership of the INDIA bloc does not arise since the bloc has not held any meeting after the Lok Sabha elections.
His remarks came in the light of few Trinamool Congress leaders advocating a change in the leadership of the INDIA bloc following the election drubbing of the Congress in the Maharahstra assembly polls.
The TMC leaders had also proposed the name of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to lead the anti-BJP front.
"There has been no meeting of the INDIA Bloc after the Lok Sabha elections, so the question of change of leadership does not arise. Let there be a meeting and let Mamata Banerjee claim the leadership if she wants... There would be discussion on it,' CM Omar told reporter here.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday acknowledged the leadership potential of CM Banerjee, emphasising her prominence as a national leader and the competence of her party's representatives in Parliament.
Pawar expressed his support, stating, "Yes, certainly (she is capable of leading the alliance). She is a prominent leader of this nation... she has that capability. The elected leaders she sent to Parliament are responsible, dutiful, and well-aware people. Therefore, she has the right to say so."
On December 3, TMC MP Kirti Azad put his weight behind the proposal. "Mamata Banerjee has a 100 per cent record. Whenever Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced a humiliating defeat, it was only in West Bengal... Whenever he comes to insult Bengal and its honour, her vote share increases."
He further had said that Mamata Banerjee is known for her articulate views and that "She is a very senior leader. She speaks clearly. She (Mamata Banerjee) resides in every household in West Bengal, in every household in the country... Mamata Banerjee is someone who takes everyone together. She calls people only after making preparations and taking her time," he added.
On November 26, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee suggested that one strong leader is needed to lead the INDIA bloc following the defeat of Congress in the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly polls. He further said that the opposition alliance should be stronger to take on the BJP.
"The Congress has failed to achieve the desired result either in Haryana or in Maharashtra. We had tremendous hope from the Congress that they would do better. The INDIA alliance is there, but the expected result could not be achieved. And there is a great failure on the part of Congress to achieve the result... Today it is necessary if you want to fight against the BJP, the INDIA alliance should be stronger. And to make it stronger, one leader is required. Now, who can be the leader? That's the core question. Congress has done it. All experiments have been done, but they have failed..." he stated. (ANI)