Mumbai: TMC Supremo, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamatha Banerjee is going to form an alternative political group against BJP led NDA for the 2024 general elections. She is seriously trying to unite regional political parties in different states to form as an alliance to face the BJP led NDA.

She said that there is no UPA, Congress led UPA is not fighting against the ongoing fascism. Mamatha Banerjee met Shiv Sena Minister Aditya Thackeray and MP Sanjay Raut discussed about the unity of different political parties against BJP. Later, she met NCP Chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon and she questioned that what is UPA? There is no UPA. Sharad Pawar was a key interlocutor of the opposition ahead of the 2019 contest, spelled it out: Template for 2024.

Mamatha said that a firm alternative course should be made as nobody is fighting against ongoing fascism. No one can do this alone. Whoever is strong in whichever place has to fight. Sharad is the senior most leaders and I came to discuss as a political courtesy, she said. Mamatha Banerjee in her answer to the media persons said, I agree with whatever Sharad said. We need a strong alternative that can fight. If someone does not want to fight what can we do? We want everyone to fight together on the field. Asked if Pawar should lead the UPA, she shot back: What UPA. There is no UPA now? What is the UPA? We will clear all issues. We want a strong alternative.

The perception is reinforced by her efforts to make TMC as the next big national party after the Congress, with a steady stream of incoming leaders giving it a foothold in multiple states like Goa, Meghalaya, Bihar and Haryana. Most of the new entrants in her party have been from the Congress. She explained she was filling the gap in states where the Congress was not fighting and places like Maharashtra should not be disturbed.

India is a vast country. And in India there are many political parties. Why will we disturb what is working in Maharashtra? That we will not do. Where there is no possibility for the Congress and they are not willing to compromise, where they are not fighting and BJP is growing, there we will work together, she said.

Sharad Pawar in his twitter shared photos of their meeting commenting that they had agreed upon the need to strengthen the collective efforts and commitment towards safeguarding democratic values.