Mamata Banerjee ‘s TMC to Contest All Lok Sabha Seats in West Bengal, Breaks Talks with Congress

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo, Mamata Banerjee, announced on Wednesday that her party would contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state independently. This decision comes after a setback in seat-sharing talks with the Congress party, where Banerjee cited the immediate dismissal of TMC’s seat-sharing proposals. The announcement has escalated tensions between the TMC and the Congress within the INDIA bloc, impacting the prelude to the Lok Sabha elections.

Seat-Sharing Dispute:

• Mamata Banerjee revealed that the TMC had sent a seat-sharing proposal to the Congress, which was promptly dismissed. As a result, the TMC has decided to go solo in West Bengal for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
• Banerjee expressed discontent with the Congress for not informing her about their Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra scheduled to enter the state, emphasizing the lack of courtesy within the alliance.

Congress Response:

• Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have downplayed the tension, emphasizing Mamata Banerjee’s significance in the INDIA bloc. They expressed optimism about reaching a middle ground in seat-sharing talks, indicating ongoing negotiations.
• Mamata Banerjee’s decision came after waiting for over a month for a response from the Congress regarding the TMC’s offer of two seats.

Congress Criticism and TMC’s Resentment:

• State Congress Chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has been critical of Mamata Banerjee, labeling her an opportunist. He asserted that the elections wouldn’t be fought at her mercy.
• Mamata Banerjee reportedly felt humiliated by Rahul Gandhi’s comments on ongoing seat-sharing negotiations, leading to her decision to contest all seats independently.

Concerns Within Congress:

• There is a sense of resentment within the West Bengal Congress unit regarding an alliance with the TMC. Issues such as police cases, atrocities, and poaching have been cited as reasons for reservations.
• The Congress leadership is facing pressure to maintain the alliance for the sake of the INDIA bloc, considering the potential consequences on seat negotiations and alliances with other parties.

TMC’s Proposal and Conditions:

• The TMC had offered two seats, Malda Dakshin and Baharampur, to the Congress in West Bengal. Additional concessions were reportedly contingent on conversations between TMC leader Mamata Banerjee and Congress leaders.
• The TMC emphasized the Congress’s weaker position in Bengal, pointing out that in 39 of the 42 seats, the Congress received less than 4% of the votes in the 2019 elections.

BJP’s Perspective:

• BJP’s Amit Malviya viewed Mamata Banerjee’s decision to contest all seats as a sign of desperation, suggesting an inability to hold political ground. He speculated that Banerjee hopes to remain relevant after the polls.

Mamata Banerjee’s announcement to contest all Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal independently marks a significant development in the ongoing seat-sharing disputes within the INDIA bloc. The decision introduces uncertainty into the political landscape and raises questions about the future of alliances and negotiations leading up to the Lok Sabha elections.