Modi is pretending to be in touch with Trinamool MLAs: Derek O’Brien

Derek O’Brien, leader of AITC Parliamentary Party (Rajya Sabha), said his party may even consider approaching courts against the Election Commission if it fails to act rationally against Prime Minister Modi for saying that 40 TMC MLAs were in touch with him. Edited excerpts from an interview with Madhuparna Das.

CM Mamata Banerjee has said AITC will form government at the Centre. Will that work?
Modi is out. BJP is out. There are enough reasons for this. We can list five — lack of jobs, underperformance, demonetisation, GST and the economy. We are appealing to voters to judge BJP on these. With all parties opposed to BJP, we will form the government. Trinamool is easily going to be the third-largest party in Parliament. We are contesting in the highest number of seats.


What is the opposition alliance’s future and who will be its leader?
Now we need to focus on the seats left to go to the polls. We are already close to crossing the mark (half-way) with these four rounds. We are working together to get the Modi-Shah Terrible Twins out. It will not take more than a few hours for parties to decide on the leader of the coalition.

Rahul Gandhi has said Banerjee did not do anything for Bengal...
The heat played an important role in this. The temperature in Malda is little high. He was on a campaign. But, the scene is different in Delhi. We will all work together to remove Modi-Shah.

Modi said 40 TMC MLAs were in touch with him. Are his party leaders also in touch with you?
Modi talks about horse-trading. The way he spoke in West Bengal, he should change his Twitter handle from Chowkidar to Ghoda Vyapari.

We are not like him.

Modi has accused Didi of nepotism...
Modi should not lecture on nepotism. Why doesn’t he order an investigation into Jay Amit Shah’s business? Mamata Banerjee’s nephew is a second-term MP, not a corporate.

Do you think ECI failed to be neutral?
We have registered a complaint with EC on Wednesday. Modi said he was in touch with 40 MLAs of Trinamool Congress. He is pretending.

We are waiting for 72 hours as we have asked to cancel his nomination.

We have respect for Election Commission. But now, breakdown of institutions has become an issue.