West Bengal CM and TMC Chairperson Mamata Banerjee has announced to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections in the state independently. The announcement, strategically timed with the Congress Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra set to enter West Bengal, has stirred conversations within the I.N.D.I.A Alliance and drawn criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Mamata Banerjee clarified, “I had no discussions with the Congress. I have consistently maintained that in Bengal, we will fight alone. Despite presenting several proposals to them, they rejected our overtures. While I may not be concerned about the national scenario, in Bengal, our secular party will stand alone to defeat the BJP.”
The West Bengal CM also took a swipe at the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, stating, “They are coming to my state without the courtesy of informing me, even though I am part of the INDIA bloc. As far as Bengal is concerned, there are no relations with them.”
Responding to Mamata Banerjee’s announcement, NCP working president Supriya Sule expressed solidarity, saying, “She is our didi, and we love and respect her. The alliance (INDIA) is strong, and we will stand united. Each state will have a different model, and there is no internal discord. We are in constant communication.”
Another member of INDIA Alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, on Mamata Banerjee’s statement, remarked, “Mamata ji is fighting like a tigress in Bengal, and her battle in West Bengal holds utmost significance.”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh addressed Mamata Banerjee’s statement, stating, “One of the pillars of the INDIA Alliance is TMC; we cannot envision the alliance without Mamata ji. As we enter West Bengal, talks of seat sharing are underway, and an outcome beneficial to all will emerge. We respect Mamata ji, and her aim to defeat the BJP aligns with our sentiments as we step into West Bengal tomorrow.”
West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar called the alliance “unnatural”. He said, “This alliance is unnatural because, in West Bengal, Congress and CPM are fighting against Mamata Banerjee. A while ago, in the Panchayat elections, Congress and CPM were thrashed by TMC workers…Mamata Banerjee knows the ground report that the alliance is ‘unnatural’ and politically unviable’. And if you have thought that top politicians having tea in Delhi and supporting TMC in Bengal was not happening, and TMC supremo knew that,”
Reacting to Mamata Banerjee’s announcement, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad commented, “This had to happen…When there is a selfish, opportunistic alliance (INDIA)…then such things happen. Mamata ji’s official announcement has come. The Congress is non-existent; they lack votes. Regional parties are asserting their market value and share. The leaders on Nyay Yatra should first do justice to these regional parties.”
In the midst of this ongoing exchange, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the state leader of the Congress, has vehemently opposes seat-sharing, and consistently launched verbal attacks against Ms. Banerjee. In response to the proposal, he asserted that her success is owed to the “mercy” of the Congress.
After the formal announcement by Mamata Banerjee, it is now clear that the Trimool Congress will not be collaborating with the Congress Party for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.
