Mamata should be 'face' of INDIA bloc to counter BJP in country: TMC leader Kalyan Bandyopadhyay
Kolkata (PTI): Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Bandyopadhyay on Friday said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should be the "face" of the INDIA bloc to counter the BJP nationally.
Asserting that the TMC under Banerjee’s leadership would win the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections with an absolute majority, Bandyopadhyay dismissed suggestions that the BJP’s strong performance in neighbouring Bihar could translate into gains in Bengal.
"BJP has good organisational strength in Bihar and the Congress failed to match them, which was reflected in the vote results. Mark my words, TMC will romp home with an absolute majority under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee in the 2026 polls," he told PTI.
Asked if Banerjee should lead the INDIA bloc in the wake of electoral Congress' electoral reverses, Bandyopadhyay said, "Yes, Didi should be the face of the non-BJP front to fight the communal, divisive, dictatorial and undemocratic politics of the BJP. She is the one who can repulse the BJP challenge and carry on the fight successfully in the country."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
