Congress will emerge stronger, says Prez daughter

“I joined Delhi Congress because I am a resident of Delhi. But, above all, I am a foot soldier of the party and am ready to work wherever I am deputed,” said Mukherjee, who stays at Greater Kailash II and is a noted Kathak danseuse.

The President’s daughter has already worked for the Congress unit of West Bengal as she took part in the campaign of her elder brother Abhijeet Mukherjee, who contested from Jangipur constituency and won from there in 2012 and 2014. The constituency was earlier held by Pranab Mukherjee himself

Mukherjee, who did a graduation in history from St Stephens College and an MA in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University, also said that in this election  Indian electorate had shown considerable political maturity.

She added that regional parties were no longer in a position to call the shots in Delhi. “One good thing about this election is that one national party has attained majority on its own. Earlier, Mamata Banerjee used to blackmail the Central government. Now, TMC has 34 MPs, but she is in no position to blackmail or any bargain with the Union government. I believe this trend of national parties getting majority is going to continue,’’ Mukherjee said.

She also expressed hope that Congress party would emerge stronger from the crisis it was in.  “In 1984, the BJP got only two seats and now they are ruling the country. Every political party has its ups and downs… we will have to accept that. There is no room for frustration. We are a 130-year-old institution. We will bounce back, we will come back much stronger,’’ she said.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, West Bengal Pradesh Congress President, invited Sharmishta to the West Bengal unit of the Congress. “She has already campaigned for the party here. I know Pranabda, I know Abhijeet, but I don’t know Sharmishta. But, if she wants to work here, she is most welcome,’’ Chowdhury said.