February 19, 2014
Mamata Banerjee speaks to CNN-IBN
In an exclusive interview to a private English news channel, the West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee announced that a non-UPA, non-NDA federal front will form the government next.
“It is time. If you can work in state, you can work at the Centre also. The next government will be a federal front government, not UPA or NDA,” she said.
The Trinamool Congress chief said that she will fight elections outside West Bengal too. She made it clear that her priority was to work for the people and formulate pro-people policies. “I want to help the Centre as well as the states,” the WB CM added.
“We will fight all 42 seats in West Bengal and the Trinamool will contest elections in different states,” she said.
“Democracy will decide the PM candidate. Not me or you,” she said when asked about her prime ministerial ambitions. “I know my limitations. I am not greedy for any post. It will all depend on the number of seats we get,” she added.
When asked about Anna Hazare, whom she met on Tuesday, Ms. Banerjee said he will select the Trinamool's candidates ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
“I had never met Anna in my life earlier. This is for the first time I met him. The Trinamool will contest elections throughout the country. Anna ji will select candidates,” she said.
When asked to comment on the Prime Ministerial candidates of other parties like the BJP or the Congress, she commented that she was “not an examiner and am not here to give marks.”
