Kolkata: Igniting a rift within the newly formed larger opposition bloc called INDIA, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of West Bengal has reportedly warned the Congress party that seat-sharing for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state would be impossible if they choose to ally with the CPI(M).
The ruling party in West Bengal plans to inform the Congress leadership about the number of seats it is willing to spare out of the total 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Subsequently, it will be up to the Congress party to decide how they will distribute these allocated seats between themselves and the CPI(M).
Amidst growing tension, the TMC leadership has expressed its displeasure over the Congress party's persistent targeting of Abhishek Banerjee, the TMC's national general secretary and Lok Sabha member. Despite expressions of solidarity from certain Congress leaders, including C. Venugopal, towards Banerjee, the state Congress leadership in West Bengal has maintained a confrontational stance, much like the CPI(M) leaders.
Sources within the Trinamool Congress suggest that the party views the Congress's actions as politically motivated and driven by local compulsions rather than a cohesive strategy within the Opposition INDIA alliance.
A senior TMC leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "Understanding that this is CPI(M)'s political compulsion, why should the state Congress leaders adopt the same line? So, in such a situation, it is for Congress's national leadership to decide whether they want to move with us or with CPI(M) in West Bengal."
The growing discord has led the TMC to reconsider its alliance strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to party insiders, the TMC is now reaching out to the Congress party to discuss the possibility of a seat-sharing formula. However, the party has categorically ruled out any negotiations with the Left Front led by the CPI(M).