Srinagar, March 16 AICC general secretary G A Mir said on Monday that the Congress would emerge as a strong force in the West Bengal assembly elections, asserting that the party will play the kingmaker once the results are out.
Speaking to reporters in Anantnag district in south Kashmir, Mir said the party would perform much better than in the last assembly elections, when it did not win a single seat.
"We secured only 4.5 per cent vote share last time, but this election, we expect more than 15 per cent vote share. Last time, we couldn't win a single seat. But this time, we will get a good, respectable number if god wills and the people of Bengal vote in a good way," Mir said.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary asserted that no government would be possible in West Bengal without the Congress.
"As of today, we will not say that we will get 148 seats directly, but we will emerge as a respectable and strong party. I feel that no government will be formed without the Congress," he added.
The Congress leader claimed that there is a strong anti-incumbency sentiment against both the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP in West Bengal.
"The TMC has been in power for 15 years, and the promises they made to the people have not been kept. They were not able to provide employment to people or begin industrialisation. The same goes with the BJP. They make big speeches but don't do anything," he said.
Mir alleged that the Central government owes Rs 2 lakh crore to the poor people of West Bengal under various schemes.
"The BJP government has not given a single paisa to West Bengal for the last three years for MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme). People there are intelligent and wise. After testing both the state and the Central governments, they want a third option, an alternative in the form of Congress," he added.
The AICC general secretary said the Congress has prepared a roadmap, which it will soon present to the people of West Bengal.
"We will put a roadmap before the people and, based on that, tell them that the Congress, which will take everyone along, is the only way out. The BJP seeks votes in the name of division of people, but for the Congress, all are alike -- whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian, whether rich or poor," he said.
"That is the beauty of the Congress party. We take everyone along despite having to bear the brunt of it at times. But that is our ideology and we cannot leave it," Mir added.