Opposition intact, TMC not poaching: Derek O’Brien
New Delhi : Opposition unity remains intact and Mamata Banerjee will attend Sonia Gandhi’s meeting, the All India Trinamool Congress(AITC) said after Sushmita Dev quit Congress and joined the party.
Dev addressed a press conference here with party leader Derek O’Brien, and said she had no grievances with the Congress. The former Lok Sabha MP also said the combination of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the new
“Opposition unity is intact, Mamata Banerjee will attend Sonia Gandhi’s meeting on Aug 20,” Derek O’Brien said.
He also rejected the allegation of poaching Congress leaders.
“Trinamool is not poaching, it’s not our style, but if there is talent in every party, and the get in touch… Who share dreams and aspirations of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek, if they reach out to us, we will welcome such people We are not an NGO we are a political party,” O’Brien said.
Dev defended her decision to join the AITC saying she is inspired by the West Bengal Chief Minister, and also the vision of Abhishek Banerjee.
Asked if Rahul Gandhi’s leadership was lacking in some way forcing her to join the AITC, Dev said two leaders should not be compared.
“Comparing two leaders is wrong, it is against my principals. I worked under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, now I will work with Abhishek Banerjee,” she said adding that the partnership between the two leaders will “show it’s colours” soon.
Dev joined AITC on Monday, after resigning from the Congress party. She was heading the women’s wing of Congress before she resigned.