We Need An Opposition, Onus On Them To Decide By Whom It Should Be Led By – Hardeep Singh Puri

File Picture : Twitter/ ANI

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said the BJP did not want the complete disappearance of the Congress as there is need for an opposition.

Speaking at Goa Fest 2022, the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas also said the Narendra Modi government is “not completely a right-wing government”.

“We do not want the Congress party to completely disappear. We need an opposition. If we have an opposition, it is for the opposition to decide whether it should be led by Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee or Arvind Kejriwal or Sharad Pawar,” Puri said.

Queried about people from various parties joining the BJP, the minister said this was what democracy was all about, adding that “if I’m the member of one party, I had the right to go another”.

“You would make a pertinent point if you say just take feedback before inducting anyone in the party,” he said, adding that the BJP is the largest party with 300 plus members in the Lok Sabha and “if people are unhappy with their party, they will gravitate towards the BJP”.

When asked if winning the 2024 Lok Sabha polls was a “done deal” for the BJP, he said nothing in politics was a done deal.

“You should never be complacent. Knowing that the party is in good shape and we are winning elections after elections, I would say the opposition needs to get its act together, if they want to post a credible challenge in 2024. BJP also has to work hard, which we are doing,” the minister added.