On January 24, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamta Banerjee declared that Trinamool Congress will contest the elections for Bengal’s 42 Lok Sabha seats on its own steam. Additionally, the party will only consider a pan-India alliance with the Congress after the results are declared.
While interacting with the media persons, Mamta Banerjee articulated, “I had no discussions with the Congress. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I had given a proposal to the Congress, but they rejected it. Ever since then, we are a secular party and, in Bengal, we alone will defeat BJP”.
The tensions between Congress and TMC escalated when the party (Congress) did not inform WB CM that it’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ would enter the state. Expressing her displeasure Banerjee said, “Even as a matter of courtesy they didn’t tell that they are coming to my State. I am part of INDIA alliance”. Ms Banerjee further mentioned the consequence of keeping her in the dark and said, “There is no relation with me, as far as Bengal is concerned”.
The ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ is scheduled to enter West Bengal on Thursday but might skip Kolkata.
While Ms Banerjee shares a harmonious relationship with Sonia Gandhi, the current sequence of events implies that her ties with Mr Gandhi have strained.
West Bengal CM clearly stated, “INDIA will be present in India (but) in Bengal the Trinamool Congress will fight. In Bengal, it is only Trinamool that can teach the BJP a lesson. It can show the country the path to victory.”
Subsequently, BJP’s Amit Malviya took a swipe at Mamta Banerjee’s decision on the micro-blogging platform, X, and called it a “sign of desperation. He further stated that Mamta Banerjee is unable to hold her political ground and wants to fight all seats.
Take a look:
Mamata Banerjee’s decision to fight alone in West Bengal is a sign of desperation. Unable to hold her political ground, she wants to fight all seats, in the hope that she can still be relevant, after the polls.
Much against her desire, to emerge as the face of the Opposition…
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 24, 2024
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