In a big blow to INDIA bloc, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on January 24 said her party would fight alone in West Bengal in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
"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 defeat BJP alone. 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..." she said.
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She also claimed that she had not been informed of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Nyay Yatra passing through West Bengal. This is contrary to claims by the Congress that they had invited INDIA bloc parties to join the Yatra. They (Congress) are doing rally (in Bengal), but they did not inform me. I am a part of the INDIA alliance, as a courtesy they should have informed me that 'Didi I am coming to your state'. We are a secular party and will do whatever we can to defeat the BJP," she said.
According to Mamata, all seat-sharing talks with the Congress has failed.
"Whatever proposal I gave them, they have refused all," Banerjee said. "Since then, we have decided to go alone in Bengal."
Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the West Bengal CM said she will fight against the BJP. “Mamata Banerjee has clearly said we will fight against the BJP. With the same thought, we are entering West Bengal. In the process of a journey, we do face hurdles, red-lights on road, which eventually turn into green. TMC is a great pillar in INDIA alliance and without her we have no standing. Consultations are happening and there is nothing like that she has broken the alliance,” he said.
Banerjee’s declaration came after a closed-door meeting between the West Bengal CM and Trinamool leaders in the party stronghold Birbhum district. Banerjee reportedly asked all leaders to prepare for contesting the polls alone and not to think about seat-sharing talks.
Recently, state Congress chief, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, has been launching attacks on the CM. On January 23, the Congress MP called the Bengal CM an “opportunist” and said the elections would not be fought at her mercy”.
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