This is the first time Akhilesh has talked about the idea of Congress backing regional parties. So far, he had maintained that it was for Congress to decide its тАЬroleтАЭ in the fight against BJP. AkhileshтАЩs latest statement is seen as a sign that not many regional parties support the idea of Congress leading the opposition in any prepoll arrangement to take on BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The comment comes days after senior Trinamool MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said any attempt by Congress to be the opposition тАЬbig bossтАЭ will be resisted.
On Sunday, Akhilesh, responding to queries about the 2024 polls, called on national parties to eschew the mindset that regional forces have harmed them. тАЬOn the contrary, it is the regional parties which are taking on BJP in their respective states more strongly than the national parties,тАЭ he said.