Mamata Banerjee declares TMC will contest polls solo amid seat-sharing tussle with Congress | India News
NEW DELHI: In a significant political development, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Wednesday that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is prepared to go it alone in the upcoming polls, amidst ongoing disagreements over seat-sharing with the Congress party.
“I had no discussions with the Congress party. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country but we are a secular party and in Bengal, we will alone defeat BJP. I am a part of the INDIA alliance. Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra is passing through our state but we have not been informed about it…” Banerjee said, distancing herself from previous reports of potential alliances for the Lok Sabha polls.
Banerjee emphasized TMC’s secular credentials and expressed her unwillingness to concede more than two Lok Sabha seats to the Congress in Bengal. This statement comes in stark contrast to the Congress’s request for eight to fourteen seats, which Banerjee deemed “impractical demands.”Earlier, the chief minister had raised concerns about the Congress potentially transferring some of these seats to the CPM and BJP, a move she strongly opposes. “This cannot go on. If necessary, we will fight alone in Bengal. Prepare to fight alone,” Banerjee firmly told her party’s Birbhum leaders on Tuesday.
The announcement marks a significant shift from earlier discussions, where the possibility of a coalition seemed more feasible.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier hinted that seat-sharing negotiations with TMC were still a possibility. However, Banerjee’s latest remarks seem to close the door on such collaborations.
“I had no discussions with the Congress party. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country but we are a secular party and in Bengal, we will alone defeat BJP. I am a part of the INDIA alliance. Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra is passing through our state but we have not been informed about it…” Banerjee said, distancing herself from previous reports of potential alliances for the Lok Sabha polls.
Banerjee emphasized TMC’s secular credentials and expressed her unwillingness to concede more than two Lok Sabha seats to the Congress in Bengal. This statement comes in stark contrast to the Congress’s request for eight to fourteen seats, which Banerjee deemed “impractical demands.”Earlier, the chief minister had raised concerns about the Congress potentially transferring some of these seats to the CPM and BJP, a move she strongly opposes. “This cannot go on. If necessary, we will fight alone in Bengal. Prepare to fight alone,” Banerjee firmly told her party’s Birbhum leaders on Tuesday.
The announcement marks a significant shift from earlier discussions, where the possibility of a coalition seemed more feasible.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier hinted that seat-sharing negotiations with TMC were still a possibility. However, Banerjee’s latest remarks seem to close the door on such collaborations.
