'I cannot wish unconstitutional, illegal party for forming government': Mamata lashes out at BJP

The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Saturday elected West Bengal Chief Minister and party chief Mamata Banerjee as the chairperson of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) Parliamentary Party in an internal party meeting of all newly elected MPs. After the meeting, she hit out at the BJP and said, "I am sorry, but I cannot wish well to an unconstitutional, illegal party for forming the government. My best wishes will be for the country. I will tell all the MPs to strengthen their party...We will not break your party but there will be divisions in your party from within, people in your party are not happy."

Additionally, the names of its leaders in the Parliament have also been announced following the meeting. In the Lok Sabha, MP Sudip Bandopadhyay will be te leader of the party accompanied by Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar as the deputy leader. Kalyan Banerjee will be acting as the Chief Whip of TMC in the lower house.

Similarly in Rajya Sabha, Derek O'Brien will be party's leader with MP Sagarika Ghose acting as deputy leader. In the upper house, Nadimul Haque will be the chief



whip of the Trinamool Congress. 

Giving information about the decisions of the meeting, Mamata Banerjee said, "I have been elected as the President of the All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party, party MP Sudip Bandopadhyay as the Leader of the Party in Lok Sabha, Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar as the Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha, Kalyan Banerjee as the Chief Whip. TMC MP Derek O'Brien has been elected as the Leader of the Party in Rajya Sabha, Sagarika Ghose as the Deputy Leader and Nadimul Haque as the Chief Whip."

Moreover, she also said that after the mandate, PM Modi should not become the prime minister for the third time. Expressing optimism for the next elections, Mamata said, "Today INDIA bloc may not have staked claim to form govt, that doesn't mean it won't tomorrow."

She also said that the BJP wanted two-third majority but failed to pass even a simple majority of 272, without which it can not amend the constitution. She added that in earlier terms BJP used to get the bills passed without any discussions, which will not be the case in this term.