West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, has declared that her party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), will independently contest all constituencies in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state. This decision comes in the wake of unsuccessful seat-sharing talks with the Congress, a key ally in the INDIA bloc. Mamata Banerjee expressed disappointment, stating that her party’s proposals on seat sharing were promptly dismissed by the Congress.
The announcement by Mamata Banerjee came after a closed-door meeting with TMC leaders in Birbhum district, during which she urged party members to prepare for solo participation in the polls. The rift between the Congress and TMC over seat-sharing has escalated, with the TMC chief expressing displeasure over not being informed about the Congress-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra scheduled to enter the state.
Mamata Banerjee criticized the Congress for not informing her about their rally in Bengal, considering the alliance between TMC and the INDIA bloc. She stated, “I am a part of the INDIA alliance; as a courtesy, they should have informed me that ‘Didi, I am coming to your state’.”
The strained relations between the two parties were evident when Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the state Congress chief, referred to Mamata Banerjee as an “opportunist.” He asserted that the elections would not be fought at her mercy and accused her of coming to power in 2011 with the mercy of Congress. However, Rahul Gandhi, moments after Chowdhury’s criticism, downplayed the remarks, stating that such comments won’t disrupt the alliance.
The dispute over seat sharing has intensified, with the TMC proposing a performance-based quantifier to determine the allocation of seats among the INDIA bloc allies. TMC offered two seats to Congress, but the latter demanded a larger share, creating a deadlock in the negotiations. The Congress expressed disappointment over TMC’s proposal to share only two out of the total 42 constituencies in the state for the national elections.
Mamata Banerjee’s decision to go solo in Bengal for the Lok Sabha polls reflects the growing tensions and unresolved issues in the seat-sharing talks. As the political landscape in West Bengal evolves, it remains to be seen how this decision will impact the electoral dynamics and the relationships within the INDIA alliance. Stay tuned for further updates on this unfolding political scenario.
