New Delhi,
Indicating the indispensability of Congress for an anti-BJP front, Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday met past Congress president Sonia Gandhi, urging her to come aboard.

In a 20-minute meeting at Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence late this evening, Banerjee sought Congress’ support for “one-on-one fight” with the BJP in states.

“One on one fights should be held in states and whichever party is the strongest should take on the BJP. The other parties should jointly support the one that is in the strongest position to defeat the BJP,” Banerjee said as having told Sonia Gandhi. In the recent UP byelections, the BSP and SP came together and defeated BJP but the Congress had gone alone.

Banerjee’s suggestion to Gandhi effectively translates into a death knell for the Congress in West Bengal where the TMC is ruling and is, therefore, in a strong position to oust the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

“I told Sonia ji, we want the Congress to be part of the united opposition. What the country wants is state-wise one-to-one fight against the BJP. Whichever party is the strongest in a state should be the one to take on the BJP. I have discussed this issue with Sonia ji. We are holding talks with regional parties,” Banerjee said, choosing to meet Sonia Gandhi instead of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

Banerjee had yesterday met a range of Opposition parties to position herself as the principal architect of any anti-BJP platform ahead of General Election. Banerjee said the existing alliances of parties could continue, like the alliance that Congress had with the RJD.