Amidst the political landscape of New Delhi, the INDIA bloc faced a significant setback with the announcement from its member, TMC, revealing the contenders for all 42 seats in the upcoming West Bengal Lok Sabha elections. In a veiled response to TMC’s declaration, the Congress asserted its strong desire for a mutually respectable seat-sharing arrangement between the two parties. Nevertheless, the seasoned party hinted at the potential alliance, leaving the door open until the withdrawal of nominations.
The genesis of this development traces back to a public address in Kolkata, where TMC Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, disclosed her party’s decision to field candidates for all 42 state seats. Following swiftly, TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee unveiled their list, dealing another blow to the Congress, entangled in challenges with various INDIA alliance partners nationwide. This revelation occurred just as Congress leaders anticipated reaching a consensus.
From the outset, Mamata Banerjee and Congress have grappled with differences on several issues. Notably, she refrained from participating in Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra during its West Bengal leg. Despite multiple discussions on seat-sharing, the deadlock persisted, with TMC unwilling to concede to Congress’s demand for more than three seats.
In the announcement of today’s Lok Sabha list, TMC neglected to consult INDIA bloc partners. However, Congress remains optimistic about alliance possibilities until the withdrawal of nominations. Responding to the TMC issue, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge suggested that the alliance might materialize before the withdrawal of nominations.
Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh took to X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The Indian National Congress has consistently expressed its desire for a respectable seat-sharing agreement with the TMC in West Bengal. Such an agreement, as per the Congress, should be reached through negotiations, not unilateral announcements.”
Jairam Ramesh emphasized the Congress’s commitment to uniting the INDIA group against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming general elections.
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, criticized TMC Chief for distancing her party from the INDIA Alliance. He conveyed that Mamata Banerjee’s actions signal to PM Modi that her party might not stand firm against the BJP in the impending elections. Adhir Ranjan strongly reacted to TMC’s candidate list, suggesting Mamata Banerjee’s apprehension that continued alliance opposition might irk PM Modi.
Recent disputes between Congress and TMC over seat-sharing in West Bengal have led to a verbal spat. TMC, under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, insists on offering no more than two seats to Congress, while the latter holds two MPs from West Bengal. TMC, a key player in the INDIA bloc, affirms the unity of opposition parties against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Noteworthy in Trinamool’s Lok Sabha candidate lineup are former cricketers Yusuf Pathan and Kirti Azad. Pathan, nominated for the Baharampur seat, traditionally a Congress stronghold, competes with state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the current sitting MP. Kirti Azad secures the nomination for the Bardhaman-Durgapur seat. Dispelling speculations about changes among senior members, Trinamool Congress renews party MPs Sudip Bandopadhyay (Kolkata-North), Mala Roy (Kolkata-South), Sougata Roy (Dumdum), Kalyan Banerjee (Sreerampur), and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (Barasat). Mohua Moitra, amid recent controversies, retains her nomination for the Krishnanagar seat.