NEW DELHI: The opposition‘s joint vice presidential candidate Margaret Alva on Saturday said she was “aghast” at the Trinamool Congress’ decision to abstain from the V-P elections but added that the party’s chief, Mamata Banerjee, still has “enough time to change her mind”.
“Mamata has been my friend for years, there is enough time for her to change her mind,” said 80-year-0ld Alva, who is facing an uphill task in the August 6 vice presidential poll in which she is up against ruling NDA’s Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Alva has attacked Dhankhar for functioning as a representative of a party while holding the post of West Bengal Governor.
Describing the prevailing differences among opposition parties as a “family quarrel”, Alva said all the parties were clear on the fact that the “Constitution has to be defended and democratic institutions protected”. “We don’t want a one-party rule,” she added.
There may be differences in the non-BJP camp but the intention is to find a common platform ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, said Alva.

The former Rajasthan governor added that the “tragedy” of today’s democratic system is that the mandate of people does not prevail and muscle-power, money power, and threats change the composition of the elected framework.
Responding to frequent disruptions in Parliament, the multi-term parliamentarian said it is happening because the Chair is “unable” to work out compromises whereby the opposition’s point of view is considered.
(With inputs from PTI)