TMC, Congress positions must converge: PC

Panaji: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday said the political approach of his party and that of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress must converge for the good of the country.

He also appreciated a recent statement by Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut that the Congress must take lead in bringing together all UPA constituents to take on the BJP at the national level. “(West Bengal CM) Mamata is a friend of mine. I know over 20-25 years she has got a particular approach, we have an approach. It is good for the country if the two approaches converge,” Chidambaram said here.

His statement came in the backdrop of Banerjee’s recent remarks in Mumbai questioning the very existence of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance.

Queried on Raut’s statement, he said. “I have read Sanjay Raut’s statement, I think he has made a very responsible statement. What Raut says is that we need a non-BJP opposition in the country and the Congress must take a lead and bring together all UPA partners.”

“I think that is a very sensible statement. I fully agree with Sanjay Raut. I think it is the correct initiative. We are ready to try but two hands must clap,” he added.

Raut, after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, had said no mega alliance against the BJP could be thought of without the Congress. -(PTI)