New Delhi, December 19: BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday said AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee proposed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's name as the opposition INDIA bloc's prime ministerial candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to "oust" Rahul Gandhi from the race.

Banerjee and Kejriwal on Tuesday proposed Kharge's name as the opposition INDIA bloc's prime ministerial candidate after a meeting in Delhi, saying he can be the country's "first Dalit prime minister" but no decision has been taken on it. Several leaders, including the MDMK's Vaiko, confirmed the development after the meeting of the opposition grouping and said Kharge said during the talks that it is important to win first and increase the strength of the alliance while everything else can be decided later. INDIA Bloc Meeting: Trinamool Congress Sets Deadline of December 31 To Finalise Seat Sharing Arrangement

"Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee know that Khargeji won't be the prime ministerial candidate when Rahul Gandhi is there. Both of them have laid a trap to oust Rahul Gandhi (from the race). They have taken both of them (Kharge and Gandhi) in their trap," Singh told PTI when asked for comment. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc held the meeting to stall the country's progress.

"A meeting of the opposition parties' INDIA bloc was held here today (Tuesday). This meeting was held so that the country doesn't progress," said Athawale, whose Republican Party of India (A) is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He said all INDIA bloc constituents have come together "only to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi" in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "But defeating Modi is not child's play," Athawale told PTI. Mallikarjun Kharge's Name Proposed by Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal As INDIA Bloc PM Face, Congress Chief Says 'Lets Win First'

"Narendra Modi is a strong person. He has worked for this country and its people. The BJP has just formed its government in three states after winning the assembly elections," he said. "In the Telangana assembly polls, the BJP's vote share increased along with its tally, from one seat to eight… Hence, I feel that the people are with us," Athawale added.