Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha on Monday lauded Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and said he has now emerged as the “frontrunner for the post of PM” in the opposition camp.
Actor-turned-politician Rahul said Gandhi’s 3,570-km yatra was the most historic yatra the country has witnessed in recent times and could be compared to LK Advani’s ‘Ram Rath Yatra’. In the early 1990s.
However, the former Union minister sidestepped the question of his return to the Congress by saying that his “answer is silent”.
“Rahul Gandhi has emerged as a leader after this visit, and is now a respected leader. He seems quite capable for the post of PM.
“He is now the frontrunner in the opposition camp (for the prime minister’s post). Lakhs of people are coming forward in his support. He has proved his leadership ability. People have accepted him as a leader,” Sinha told PTI in a telephonic interview.
This is the second time in the last three months that Sinha has come out with words of praise Rahul Gandhi and his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.
Asked whether the yatra would help the Congress get votes in the next Lok Sabha elections, Sinha replied in the affirmative.
“The kind of support he is getting is phenomenal. If this enthusiasm translates into even 20 per cent votes, it will be very good for the country and especially for the Congress party.
The TMC MP referred to the political tours conducted by LK Advani and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh in the recent past.
“We have seen in the past how long marches have helped translate into votes. We have seen the journey of LK Advani and Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh. when in west bengal election Mamata Banerjee Got injured and later campaigned on a wheelchair, you have seen the results in the 2021 assembly elections.”
Sinha joined the BJP in the early 80s, and served as the star campaigner of the saffron camp during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-LK Advani era.
The two-time BJP MP from Patna Sahib later quit the party over differences with the current leadership and joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
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He successfully contested the by-election from Asansol, an industrial city in West Bengal.
Asked about NCP leader Sharad Pawar’s recent comment that the visit would help build a consensus among opposition parties, Sinha said he agreed with the veteran Maharashtra politician’s view.
“Which real Chanakya would I go to India Politics – Sharad Pawar – has said. It (the yatra) can unite the opposition. Everyone wishes, hopes and prays.
Speaking about who would hold the reins of leadership in the opposition camp, Sinha said “whoever will have the most seats will emerge as the leader”.
“People will decide who will become the PM. Whoever has the maximum number of seats and support base will be the leader of the opposition camp,” he said.
Advocating for opposition unity, Sinha said that this is the right time for the opposition to unite.
“With all due respect to all, I must say that the opposition should unite as a nation in general and in particular… when the anti-incumbency wave is on the rise, and you fail to deliver on your promises , then people vote against the ruling party. When we have Rahul Gandhi at the forefront and Mamata Banerjee as the game changer, nothing seems impossible.”
Speaking about the differences between the Congress and the TMC, Sinha said he is a “positive person” and hoped that relations between the two parties would improve in the future.
Asked whether he plans to return to the Congress before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sinha said, “My answer is silence.”
The Asansol MP made it clear that he firmly stands as Mamata Banerjee’s lieutenant and has “full faith and respect for her leadership”, a tried and tested leader of the country.
Sinha, however, had a piece of advice for his party colleagues, who have been critical of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, and said, “No opposition party should criticize another opposition party in an effort to fight the battle against the BJP.” Should,” he added.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)