Opposition Rift Deepens: Mamata’s Snub Deals Blow to INDIA Bloc’s Unity

Kolkata: In a surprising turn of events, Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool Congress, announced that her party will independently contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal. The declaration came amidst strained negotiations with the Congress for a seat-sharing arrangement, and Banerjee expressed her willingness to consider a nationwide alliance with the Congress only after the election results are declared.

Banerjee asserted that she had not engaged in discussions with the Congress and emphasized her commitment to fighting alone in Bengal. The Trinamool leader cited the rejection of her proposals by the Congress and declared, “In Bengal, we alone will defeat BJP.”

While Trinamool sources hinted at the possibility of “courtesy back-channel” talks, it appears unlikely that a deal will be reached. The tension was evident as Banerjee criticized Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ which is set to enter Bengal. She expressed disappointment at not being informed about the visit, indicating strained relations with the Congress.

Congress responded through spokesperson Jairam Ramesh, stating they “cannot imagine INDIA bloc without Mamataji.” Ramesh asserted that all INDIA partners would unite to contest Lok Sabha polls in Bengal. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal added that the party would engage in talks with Trinamool to form an alliance in West Bengal.

The disagreement over seat-sharing escalated on Tuesday when Banerjee criticized the Congress’ demand for 10-12 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal, offering only two due to the Congress’s limited success in the state. The BJP’s Amit Malviya seized the opportunity to mock Banerjee, calling her decision to fight alone a “sign of desperation” and suggesting it stemmed from an inability to hold political ground.

The ongoing rift between Trinamool and Congress over seat-sharing reflects the broader challenge of forming a united front against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP. The negotiations have persisted for weeks without resolution, with both parties reluctant to compromise.