In a surprising turn of events, Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress supremo, dealt a severe blow to the INDIA bloc on Wednesday, January 24, by announcing that her party would contest the upcoming elections in Bengal independently. Banerjee expressed her firm stance, stating, “I had no discussions with the Congress party. In Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about the country; we are a secular party and will defeat BJP on our own.”
The rift between Trinamool and Congress escalated as Banerjee claimed she was not informed about Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra passing through Bengal. Contrary to Congress’s claims of inviting INDIA bloc parties, Banerjee asserted, “They did not even bother to inform me, even though I am part of the INDIA bloc. There is no relation with me as far as Bengal is concerned.”
Highlighting the breakdown in talks, Banerjee disclosed, “I gave many proposals, but they rejected them from the beginning. From then, we have decided to fight the elections in Bengal alone.” She emphasized that the TMC would decide its strategy at the national level, underscoring its commitment to defeating the BJP.
The discord between Trinamool and the Congress deepened as state unit chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury launched verbal attacks on Mamata Banerjee. Chowdhury asserted that Mamata Banerjee came to power in 2011 with the mercy of Congress and declared that this time, the elections would not be fought at her mercy.
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Rahul Gandhi, attempting damage control during his Nyay Yatra in Assam, insisted on his positive relationship with Banerjee. “Negotiations on seat-sharing are underway. Mamata Banerjee is very close to me and our party. Such comments won’t matter; these are not things that will disrupt things,” Gandhi remarked, downplaying the rift.
The seat-sharing disagreement between the two parties became apparent when it was reported that the Trinamool Congress was willing to offer the Congress a maximum of three out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal. In the 2019 elections, Congress had won two seats, while the TMC secured 22 seats. With Banerjee’s announcement of going solo, it seems that the doors for the Congress in Bengal are firmly closed.
The INDIA bloc, which aimed to forge alliances to present a united front against the BJP, now faces significant challenges. Mamata Banerjee’s decision to go solo in Bengal reflects the stumbling block in stitching together alliances within the bloc. The alliance’s ability to present a cohesive front against the BJP is now in question, posing a potential setback to their electoral prospects.
As the political landscape in Bengal undergoes a seismic shift with Banerjee’s announcement, the INDIA bloc will need to reassess its strategy and navigate the complexities of regional dynamics. The unfolding developments underscore the intricate nature of political alliances and the delicate balance that parties must maintain to secure electoral success. The coming days will reveal the ripple effects of this decision on the broader political scenario in the run-up to the elections.
Source: ANI News