New Delhi: Amidst mounting discontent within the opposition INDIA bloc and escalating pressure on the Congress, the party declared on Saturday that it was incumbent upon all members to fortify the alliance. The Congress expressed optimism regarding the prospect of INDIA contesting collectively in West Bengal.
Addressing the media, Congress’s communications chief, Jairam Ramesh, stated that certain states where allies were entangled in “very good fix” would reveal their seat allocations in due course. Ramesh disclosed that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had initiated contact with Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, emphasizing her commitment to thwarting the BJP, which buoyed hopes for an alliance. Ramesh’s remarks followed Banerjee’s recent declaration that her party would independently contest in West Bengal, alleging that the Congress had rebuffed her offer of two seats.
Attributing the breakdown in negotiations to the antagonistic stance of state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury towards Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Trinamool Congress’s Rajya Sabha floor leader, asserted that his party’s decision to contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal was primarily influenced by this factor. The likelihood of a pact in West Bengal appeared slim, with indications suggesting that the Congress might need to concede seats to the TMC in Assam and Meghalaya as part of a seat adjustment, as per a TMC insider.
Describing Banerjee as a pivotal figure in the alliance, Ramesh highlighted ongoing communication between Congress leadership and the West Bengal Chief Minister. He stressed that despite local conflicts such as Chowdhury’s remarks, the primary objective of the alliance remained focused on national issues, especially defeating the BJP.
Despite facing criticism from allies over delays in seat-sharing agreements, Congress defended its stance, asserting that seat-sharing was a complex matter. Ramesh acknowledged progress in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand, where the Congress has allied partners. However, despite the resolve expressed during the INDIA bloc’s meeting last year, no concrete seat pacts have been announced yet.
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