“I pray that Congress is able to save at least 40 seats…,” PM Modi takes a dig at Congress, borrows from CM Mamata Banerjee’s “40-seat” jibe

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hit out at Congress, referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s “40 seat” jibe at the grand old party. “A challenge has come from West Bengal that the Congress would not be able to cross the 40-seat mark. I pray that they (Congress) are able to save at least 40 seats,” said the Prime Minister while giving the motion of thanks to President Draupadi Murmu’s Parliament address.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee on February 2 had slammed Congress, saying that she doubts if the grand old party would be able to bag even 40 seats in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “I doubt if Congress will even win 40 seats. I did not ask for anything from them, out of goodwill, I was offering two seats and would ensure that they won. But they wanted more. I said okay, contest in all 42 then. Rejected! We have not spoken on seat sharing since then,” said Mamata Banerjee.

During his address in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the Prime Minister also took a dig at Mallikarjun Kharge over his “400 paar” remark. "Mallikarjun Kharge ji spoke in Rajya Sabha for a long time and I was thinking about how he got the chance to speak for a long time. Then I realised that two special commanders were not there so he took advantage of it. I think that Kharge ji must have heard that song 'aisa mauka phir kaha milega'," said PM Modi.

“Congress does not give a guarantee for its leaders, their ideologies have no guarantee, however, they are questioning Modi’s guarantee that is resolute to the growth and development of the nation,” asserted the Prime Minister.​